54 



is practiced in about 50 per cent of the orchards, and legaimes are 

 planted in about the same amount, rye and vetch being used to some 

 extent. San Jose scale and gypsy and brown-tail moths are doing 

 the most damage. Frost injured about 50 per cent of the straw- 

 berry crop, but prices are about the same as one year ago. On May 

 10 the temperature was 23°; May 11, 32°; May 12, 29°; May 13, 

 35° ; May 15, 31°. 



Belmont (Richard Hittikger). — Small fruits suffered from 

 frosts, but other fruits were not damaged. Tree fruits set well, and 

 there has been much drop. Crop prospect: apple, light; pear and 

 peach, heavy; plum and currant, light; cherry, fair. Clean culture 

 is the method , practiced. The currant borer is the most troublesome 

 insect now, others having been killed by spraying; fire blight has 

 not appeared. Ten per cent of the strawberry crop was injured 

 by frost; prices have been satisfactory, and were a little lower than 

 a year ago. Spraying for sooty fungus is being practiced. 



Marlborough (F. Howard Brown). — No frost damage since last 

 report. Tree fruits set well usually, and the drop was normal. 

 Prospect good for all fruits except plums. In some cases grass 

 is left as cut ; in a few, it is hauled off ; clean culture is being prac- 

 ticed more extensively than formerly; crimson clover, vetch, buck- 

 wheat and rye are being used as cover crops. The curculio is the 

 most troublesome insect, and the gypsy moths are spreading; there 

 has been no fire blight, but the scab and cedar rust are in evidence. 

 The strawberry crop in this locality was not injured much by frost; 

 prices have been above the avei'age and were higher than last year. 

 Personally, have finished fourth spraying, although summer sj^ray- 

 ing is not practiced much in this vicinity. If the dry weather con- 

 tinues, the yield is bound to be affected. In spite of dry season 

 there seems to be an unusual amount of fungiis about; no gxeen 

 aphis, but woolly aphis is in evidence. 



Ashland (Clark W. Brown). — There has not been much drop. 

 Fruit crop prospect : apple, small ; pear, 75 ; cherry, 80 ; currant, 

 90; raspberry and blackberry, 100. The usual orchard practice is 

 sod mulch, and the grass is generally removed. The ordinaiy apple 

 worm is doing the most damage. Ten per cent of the strawberry 

 crop was injured by frost ; prices have been above the average, — 

 15 per cent above last year. 



Hopkinton Springs (W. F. Wheeler). — Seventy-five per cent 

 of small fruits suffered from frost, but other fruits were not dam- 

 aged. A good average of tree fruits set well, and there was very 

 little drop where spraying had been practiced. Fruit crop prospect: 

 apple, 60; pear, 95; cherry, 95; raspberry, blackbeiry and blue- 

 ben-y, g-ood. Grass is both removed and left on ground to some 

 extent; in young oi'chards clean culture is practiced some; legumes 



