62 



flueneed to some extent. Early bloom was extra good, but dried up 

 and dropped off. Early Blacks are better than the late berries. 



Nathaniel P. Sowle, Freetown {Bristol County). — Crop pros- 

 pect is normal, dry weather not having materially reduced the crop. 

 Growers are allowing their bog-s to remain fairly dry. The bloom 

 was normal, with very little blasting of blossoms; there was a 100 

 per cent set, and the prospects for early and late berries are about 

 equal. There has been a good growth of new uprights, — about 

 equal to that of last year. Very little damage from the wet-bog 

 fireworm, and not much damage by the first brood. No apparent 

 injury from fruit worm or other insects. Gypsy moths have not 

 been numerous. Not much " false blossom " on the bogs. No in- 

 crease in amount of spraying for fung-us, nor in number of growers 

 who fertilize their bogs. About the usual number of wild bees in 

 evidence. Labor has been plentiful. Bogs in this vicinity are look- 

 ing well, and present indications point to a fairly good crop. 



Marcus L. Urann, Hanson {Plymouth County). — Crop prospect 

 is 100. Crops in vicinity of Hanson and Wareham have not been 

 materially reduced by drought, but those in Carver suffered. Early 

 Blacks having been most affected. Dry bogs more affected than 

 those having winter flowage. There was a bloom of 120; about 25 

 per cent of blossoms blasted; 75 per cent blossoms set. Howes 

 promise better at this time. The growth of new uprights has been 

 good, and is 110 as comi^ared with last year. Wet-bog fireworm is 

 very abundant; no extensive injury by first brood; 80 per cent of 

 the acreage here is affected by this insect. The fruit worm has 

 done the usual amount of damage, and the army worm has been 

 especially noticeable on the bog-s. Spraying for these pests has been 

 practiced. The gypsy moth has not been numerous. Considerable 

 " false blossom " on bogs, the Early Blacks being most affected. 

 There has been no increase in the number of growers who fertilize. 

 Wild bees have been plentiful. Labor has been plentiful, and bog 

 operations have been affected thereby. 



George Edward Lewis, Pembroke {Plymoiith County). — Crop 

 prospect at present is 100, not having been materially affected by 

 the dry weather. Growers are letting their bogs remain fairly dry. 

 Bloom was 120 per cent of normal, with considerable blasting; there 

 has been an 80 per cent set. Early Blacks promising better than 

 the late berries. The gi'owth of uprights is good, about 110 com- 

 pared with last year. Wet-bog fireworm is veiy abundant; the first 

 brood did not do very much damage; 60 per cent of the acreage in 

 this vicinity seems to be affected. Fruit-worm injury is now below 

 normal ; yelloAvheads and the army worm are quite noticeable ; spray- 

 ing destroys about 80 per cent of the insects; the gypsy moth has 

 not appeared. There was very little " false blossom." There has 



