51 



as compared with 1912; present condition, 70. Acreage of late ear- 

 rots is 75. Fifty represents condition of cauliflower crop. The 

 dry weather is very materially affecting sweet corn, its condition 

 being 60. Onions have not made a normal growth; very little dam- 

 age done by maggots; crop condition, 70. Green pea crop is very 

 poor, 50; price per bushel, $1.75; 1912, $1.50. The tomato crop 

 promises an SO per cent yield; not fruiting as well as usual; no 

 fruit gathered. No damage by hailstorms. Farmei-s are planning to 

 put in tile drains 3 feet deep, 3 rods apart, or in low places where 

 needed; drainage or irrigation not practiced by means of open 

 ditches. Kain was never more needed in this section than now; 

 very little has fallen since May. 



A. J. Rakdall, Hadley {Hampshire County). — The late aspara- 

 gus beetle is in evidence, and spraying is being practiced to ex- 

 terminate it, 8 pounds of araenate of lead to 4 gallons of water be- 

 ing used. (We add iVo pounds Reynolds' Paris green.) String 

 bean crop, 90; shell beans, 70. Beets brought 5 cents per bunch; 

 acreage of late beets, 70; there was a shortage in germination, due 

 to the drought. Late cabbage acreage, 50; 40 as compared with 

 1912. Late carrot acreage, 100. Cauliflower crop condition, 80. 

 Late celery acreage, 80; with 1912, 110. Growth of onion crop is 

 normal ; no indication of thrip ; maggots have damaged 5 per cent 

 of the crop; crop condition, 110. Green pea crop yield, 90; price 

 per bushel, $1.40. Tomato crop prospect, 50; not fruiting as well 

 as usual; some fruit gathered. Farmers here are not planning to 

 put in tile drains. We sprayed asparagus three times, thereby kill- 

 ing all beetles. 



John L. Davis, East Longmeadow (Hampden County) . — The 

 late asparagTis beetle has appeared, and nothing is being done to 

 combat it. String bean crop, 70; shell beans, 70. Beets sold for 

 10 cents a dozen; late beet acreage, 100; per cent geiinination, 75; 

 dry soil and cutworms being the contributing causes of shortage. 

 As compared with normal the late cabbage acreage is 80; with 1912, 

 80; condition, 80. Late carrot acreage, 70. Late celery, 80; with 

 1912, 100; condition, 80. Dry weather is affecting sweet corn, its 

 present condition being 75. Onion crop has not made normal 

 growth ; condition, 75. Green pea crop, 50 ; price per bushel, $1,40 ; 

 1912, $1.20. The tomato crop prospect is 80; not fruiting as well 

 as usual; no fruit gathered. Drainage or irrigation not practiced, 

 except on gardens in a small way, but the application has paid well. 

 Farmers are not contemplating putting in tile drains. In some 

 instances drainage and irrigation are practiced by means of ditches, 

 which are filled with field stone, and covered. 



James E. Hamilton", Palmer (Hampden County). — String bean 

 crop, 65 ; shell beau crop, 70. Beets have sold for 30 cents per dozen 

 bunches ; late beet acreage, 100 ; per cent germination, 85. Late cab- 



