54 



as well as usual. Carrots, beets and celery have received the most 

 irrigation; the application has paid well; no method superior to the 

 Skinner system has been devised. Low ground is tile-drained 3 to 

 4 feet deep, and this method is found to be much better than open 

 ditches. Crops as a rule look poorly, and the yield will not be 

 more than one-half or two-thirds where water could not be applied 

 or the ground was low. Prices have ruled a little higher than last 

 year. 



Howard W. Foster, Tewksbunj {Middlesex County). — The late 

 asparagus beetle is picked by hand. String bean crop, 75; shell 

 bean crop, 75. Beets have brought 20 to 25 cents per dozen bunches, 

 4 in a bunch. Late beet acreage, 110; very few beets sown, as 

 it is too dry. Late cabbage acreage, 75 as compared with both 

 normal and that of 1912; condition, 75. It is too di-y to sow late 

 carrots. Cauliflower crop condition, 50. Late celery acreage, 50 

 as compared with normal and with that of 1912; condition, 40. 

 Sweet corn is showing the effects of di'y weather; condition, 40. 

 Growth of onions has been normal; thrips are present; maggots 

 have damaged the crop 20 per cent; condition, 60. Green pea crop 

 yield, 75; price per bushel, $1.40; 1912, $1.25. Tomato crop pi-os- 

 pect, 100 ; fruiting well. Some fruit has been gathered from outdoor 

 plants. It is very dry, with no indication of rain. 



E. W. Haskell, Merrimac (Essex County). — Chickens are al- 

 lowed to run in the asparagTis for the purpose of controlling the late 

 beetle. String and shell bean crops, 90. Beets have been selling 

 for 30 to 75 cents per dozen bunches. Late beet acreage, 125 ; the 

 seed is germinating slowly on account of dry weather. Late cabbage 

 acreage, 125 as compared with normal; 100 as compared with that 

 cf 1912; condition, 100. Acreage of late carrots is about normal; 

 the crop is looking well and is beginning to be sold in bunches. 

 Cauliflower seed did not come up well ; the crop prospect is 50 at 

 present, but may improve later. Late celery acreage, 150 as com- 

 pared with normal; 125 as compared with that of 1912; condition, 

 100. Sweet corn stalks are short and ears are small; condition, 75. 

 Onions have made a normal growth; condition, 125. Di-y weather 

 cut the yield of green peas 20 per cent; price per bushel, $1.50; 

 1912, $1.25. Tomato crop prospect, 90; fruiting as well as usual; 

 no fruit has been gathered, but early plants are looking fine; late 

 set plants have been more affected by dry weather. Celery and 

 early cabbage are those mostly irrigated. The application has paid 

 well. For celery I prefer, to the Skinner system, the following: 

 turn furrow away from the plants, fill with water, and then turn 

 back; for other crops the Skinner is to be prefeiTed where there is 

 sufficient water pressure. Farmers are doing some tile draining. 

 My onions never looked better, but I have seen beds almost stripped 



