14 



tol, 91.7; Xorfolk, 90; Barnstable, 88.7; Essex, 8G.7; 

 Hampshire, 85; Worcester, 81.6; Berkshire, 81.2; Hamp- 

 den, 81.1; Middlesex, 78.3; Franklin, 72.6; the State, 84.1. 

 The proportion of Indian corn grown for ensilage is : Nor- 

 folk, 76; Middlesex, 57.2; Worcester, 56.8; Essex, 55; 

 Eranklin, 49.8; Berkshire, 48.7; Hampshire, 47.2; Bristol, 

 42.2; Hampden, 41.4; Plymouth, 18.3; Dukes, 15; Barn- 

 stable, 14.2 ; the State, 47.2, as compared with 44.6 in 1912. 



The Hay Crop. 



The bulk of the hay crop has been harvested, — enough 

 to allow a fairly accurate estimate to be made, although the 

 aggregate yield may be slightly below because of the rapid 

 ripening of grass not harvested and of the tendency of 

 farmers to let their poorer fields go until the end of the cut- 

 ting season. Owing to the effects of the unforeseen continu- 

 ance of the drought, the prospect estimate for the State on 

 June 27 was 1.2 per cent higher than the yield estimate on 

 July 24. The yield compared with normal is : ISTorfolk, 89.6 ; 

 Plymouth, 86; Bristol, 85; Essex, 83.7; Hampshire, 81.2; 

 Middlesex, 79.5; Worcester, 79.4; Hampden, 78.6; Frank- 

 lin, 77; Barnstable, 70.8; Dukes, 70; Berkshire, 64.2; the 

 State, 78.6. 



While the dry weather hastened the ripening of, and 

 shortened, the crop, the lack of showers gave farmers oppor- 

 tunity to harvest their hay without delav and in excellent 

 condition. The quality is: Franklin, 101.1; I^orfolk, 99; 

 Plymouth, 98; Hampshire, 97.2; Worcester, 95.2; Egsex, 

 93.7; Berkshire, 93.5; Hampden, 92.2; Middlesex and Bris- 

 tol, 90 ; Barnstable, 85.4 ; the State, 94.4. 



Potatoes. 

 Serious damage has been done both early and late potatoes 

 by the drought, and the prospect is far from encouraging. 

 The tubers sprouted unevenly in some cases. One corre- 

 spondent in Hampshire county reports that the tops look well 

 but the tubers are undeveloped. The condition is: Bristol, 

 87.8; :N^orfolk, 87; Essex, 86.3; Plymouth, 85.6; Dukes, 



