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reported on, were generally said to have blossomed well. 

 The time of the fruit bloom was probably about normal, 

 but the setting and growth of the fruit seems to have been 

 delayed in some cases by the cold nights. 



Insects. 



Not for several years has there been as little damage from 

 insects reported as the present spring. It is believed that 

 the cold weather has done much to hold them in check. As 

 usual, the tent caterpillar is the insect most often spoken of as 

 doing damage, but even it appears to be less numerous than 

 usual. There are very few complaints of injury from canker 

 worms as yet. Other insects spoken of as doing damage are 

 currant worms, bud moths, wire worms, cut worms, white 

 grubs, potato bugs, codling moths, brown-tail moths, aspara- 

 gus beetles and cranberry vine and fire worms. 



Spraying. 



The practice of spraying appears to be constantly on the 

 increase, but at best its progress is slow. Certainly fewer 

 of our farmers spray than should be the case. Most of the 

 larger fruit growers have sprayed their trees for years and 

 still continue to do so. It is our belief that many more 

 farmers would spray if it were not that they believe the 

 initial expense to be larger than it is. We would call atten- 

 tion to the article on " Spraying Crops for Profit " at the end of 

 this bulletin. In this article will be found directions for 

 spraying all kinds of fruit trees, and also descriptions of 

 apparatus for the purpose which is within the means of all 

 our farmers. 



Farm Help and Wages. 



Farm help does not appear to be quite as plenty as last 

 year. Strictly first-class help is of course hard to secure, 

 but, as of late years, a considerable proportion of the help 

 available may be classed as good help. Wages average 

 about $18 per month with board. Board is reckoned at 

 from $12 to $16 per month, and where men are hired by the 



