13 



NOTES OF CORRESPONDENTS. 



(Returned to us May 22.) 



BERKSHIRE COUNTY. 



Sheffield (Dwight Andrews). — The season is late and cold Past- 

 ures and mowings are looking well and fall seeding wintered well. 

 The fruit bloom was not up to the average. Tent caterpillars are doing 

 some damage. Spraying is practised somewhat, but not extensively. 

 Farm help is not plenty ; half of it is good help. Wages are from $18 

 to $20 per month with board. More potatoes are being planted than 

 usual. 



Monterey (Win. S. Bidwell). — ■ The season is a favorable one, neither 

 early nor late. Pastures are looking fairly well, meadows normal, and 

 fall seeding makes about an average showing. The fruit bloom was 

 lighter than usual, apples and pears making about half a full bloom. 

 Tent caterpillars are doing some damage but no more than usual. 

 Farm help is plenty and half of it good ; women for housework scarce, 

 and half of them good. Wages are from $18 to $20 per month with 

 board and $1.25 to $1 50 per day without board More corn has been 

 planted than usual, but loss for silage, also more potatoes than usual. 



Lee (A. Bradley). — The season is nearly up to the normal. Past- 

 ures and mowings are 10 per cent off the normal and fall seeding 5 

 per cent off. Very little spraying is done Farm help is plenty, but 

 only about one in ten is good help. Wages are $1.50 per day without 

 board and $1 per day with board for good help There are no great 

 changes in the line of farm crops, but the interest in poultry raising is 

 increasing. 



Richmond (T. B. Salmon) — The season is about an average one. 

 Pastures and mowings are in good condition ; but little fall seeding 

 done. The fruit bloom was very abundant. Tent caterpillars are doing 

 some damage. About 25 per cent of our farmers spray their fruit 

 trees, and the practice is on the increase. Farm help is scarce, but 

 three-fourths of it is good help. Wages are from $12 to $20 per month 

 with board and from $1.25 to $2 per day without board. More grain 

 and all kinds of planted crops will be raised than usual, as all our farmers 

 seem anxious to plough more than usual to reduce the hay crop. 



Peru (J. B. Sennett). — The season is very favorable though a little 

 backward and cold Pastures are in good condition, and mowings and 

 fall seeding are doing well. The fruit bloom is about an average one. 

 At present no damage is being done by insects. Spraying is not prac- 

 tised in this vicinity. The supply of farm help is equal to the demand 

 and it is mostly of good quality Wages are from $15 to $18 per month 

 with board. There are no changes of importance in the acreage of 

 farm crops. 



Cheshire (L. J. Northup). — The season is quite favorable. Pastures 

 and mowings promise well ; fall seeding winter-killed to some extent. 

 Ungrafted apple trees are blooming fuller than grafted. Tent cater- 



