18 



$1.50 to $1.75 per day without board. There is little change in 

 the acreage, except that more corn than usual will be planted. 

 All farm work is fully two weeks later than usual. Farm stock is 

 looking extra well and healthy, and dairy returns are quite satis- 

 factory in the main. 



Russell (E. D. Parks). — The season is rather better than the 

 average at present. Pastures and mowings are very promising, 

 and fall seeding wintered quite well. The fruit bloom is about the 

 same as common. Tent caterpillars and currant worms are doing 

 some damage. Spraying is practised to some extent, and is on 

 the increase. Farm help is rather scarce, and one-half of it is 

 good help. Wages are from $18 to $20 per month with board and 

 $35 per month without board. There are no marked changes in 

 the acreage of farm crops, and no new enterprises in agriculture. 

 Rain has retarded plowing and planting. 



West Springfield (T. A. Rogers). — April was wet and cold, 

 and all cultivated crops are late. Pastures and mowings look well, 

 considering the dry season last year, and fall seeding wintered 

 well. Pears, plums, cherries and peaches made a good bloom ; 

 apple bloom scattering. Tent caterpillars are quite thick. Spray- 

 ing has been practised but little, but is on the increase. There is 

 no trouble in getting farm help, but not much of it is extra good. 

 Wages average $20 per month with board and from $1.25 to $1.50 

 per day without board. There are few changes in the acreage of 

 farm crops and nothing new to speak of in agriculture. 



Agaioam (R. DeWitt). — The season is a little late, but is fast 

 catching up. Mowings look fairly well, and early sown fall seed- 

 ing wintered well. The fruit bloom is a good average. Currant 

 worms and potato bugs are doing some damage. Spraying is 

 practised to a small extent, and is perhaps gaining a little. There 

 is enough help, such as it is. Wages are from $15 to $20 per 

 month with board. There will be a little increase in the acreage 

 of tobacco and potatoes, and perhaps a slight decrease in that of 

 corn . 



Ludlow (C. B. Bennett). — The season is about one week late. 

 Pastures and mowings never looked better, and fall seeding looks 

 fairly well. No bloom on Baldwin apples, a full bloom 

 of other varieties; pears, plums, peaches and cherries very full. 

 Tent caterpillars are quite plenty. Spraying is little practised, 

 but is slightly on the increase. Farm help is very scarce, and 

 about one-fourth of it is good help. Wages average $20 per 

 month with board and from $30 to $35 without board. More 

 corn than usual is being planted, acreage of other crops about the 

 same as usual. 



