48 



12. Has there been any damage by hail storms ? 



13. Irrigation and drainage, (a) What crops have re- 

 ceived the largest amounts of water? (h) Has the applica- 

 tion paid well? (c) Has any method superior to the Skinner 

 system been devised? If so, give particulars, (d) Are 

 farmers in your locality planning to put in any tile drains ? 

 (e) If so, how deep and how far apart will tile be laid ? (/) 

 Is drainage or irrigation by means of open ditches being 

 practiced ? 



Replies were received from 31 correspondents, and from 

 these the following summary has been compiled : — 



The late asparagus beetle has made its appearance in West- 

 hampton, Hadley, East Longmeadow, Leicester, Bedford, 

 Billerica, Concord, Melrose and Tewksbury ; 45 per cent of 

 the correspondents reporting on this insect declare that the 

 beetle is at work. Spraying is the usual method of control, 

 although two report that chickens are allowed to run in the 

 asparagus. Handpicking and liming are also mentioned as 

 methods of control. Arsenate of lead mixed with water in 

 various proportions is the spray chiefly used. In one case 

 dry Paris green is applied as heavy as possible when the dew 

 is on, and in another a small amount of Pyrox is used Avhere 

 there are no chickens about. 



The crop of string beans is 74.8 per cent of a normal for 

 the State, the dry weather being given as the affecting cause 

 of the low yield. The shell bean crop prospect is somewhat 

 better, being 82.6 per cent. 



Only 7 per cent less than a normal acreage of late beets 

 was sown, the acreage in some instances exceeding normal. 

 The seeds did not germinate A^ery well, however, principally 

 on account of dry weather. The percentage germination was 

 73.6. 



Wholesale prices per bunch received for beets vary from 

 $0.02 to $0.05 ; the absolute average is $0,032. 



The present acreage of late cabbage, as compared with nor- 

 mal, is 82.4; as compared with 1912, 82. The condition is 

 78.4. 



The late carrot acreage is 91.7. One correspondent reports 

 the soil as being too dry for sowing carrot seed. 



