24 • 



insect doing damage as yet. Spraying is on the increase. Only 

 a small proportion of our farm help is good help. Wages are from 

 Sl5 to $20 per month with board and from $1.50 to $1.75 per day 

 without board. There is no change in the acreage of the usual 

 farm crops, although many strawberry plants are being set out this 

 spring. 



Winchester (Marshall Symmes). — The season has been so wet 

 that many pieces of ground cannot be plowed even yet, so it would 

 seem that early crops will be short. Pastures and mowings are in 

 the very best of condition, and fall seeding mostly wintered well. 

 Enormous quantities of blossoms on peach, plum, cherry, pear and 

 apple trees. Not many insects in sight yet. Spraying is on the 

 increase. Plenty of men looking for work, but not many take 

 kindly to farming. Wages are from $15 to $20 per month with 

 board and from $7.50 to $10 per week without board. 



Newton (Otis Pettee) . — But little work has been done as yet, 

 because of the cold, wet weather. Grass in pastures and mowings 

 has set thick, and if wet weather continues there is the prospect of 

 a good crop. The fruit bloom is a fair average of former years. 

 Very few insects have appeared as yet. There will be no marked 

 changes in the acreage of farm crops, and no new enterprises in 

 agriculture. 



ESSEX COUNTY. 



Salisbury (Wesley Pettengill). — The season has been very 

 cold and wet, and everything except grass is backward. Pastures 

 and mowings are looking well except on high ground, where they 

 were severely injured by the drought of last summer. Baldwins will 

 give light bloom, other apples good ; pears and plums in full bloom. 

 Tent caterpillars are doing some damage, but are not as plenty as 

 some years. Spraying is practised for canker worms, and not 

 much for other insects. Farm help is a little scarce this spring, 

 and not over 20 per cent of it is good help. Wages range from 

 $15 to $25 per month with board and from $25 to $35 per month 

 without board ; by the day, $1 with board and $1.50 without. The 

 acreage of planted crops will not be as large as usual, owing to the 

 lateness of the season. 



Haverhill (Eben Webster). — The season has been cold and 

 wet, and not much has been done on low land. Pastures, mowings 

 and fall seeding are looking well. The fruit bloom is smaller than 

 last year, Baldwin apples very light, fall apples full bloom. No 

 insects as yet. Spraying is rather on the increase. Good farm 

 help is not plenty. Wages average about $20 per month with 

 board and $1.50 per day without board. There is nothing new 

 in agricultural enterprises or the acreage of farm crops. 



