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which bloomed full. Only a few make a practice of spraying. Good 

 farm help is scarce. The wages paid are from $5 to $20 per month 

 according to the grade and quality of help. I do not think there is any 

 marked change in the acreage of farm crops. 



MIDDLESEX COUNTY. 



Marlborough (E. D. Howe). — With a little rain the season would be 

 well up to the avei-age. Pastures and mowings made a good start but 

 need rain ; fall seeding wintered well. The fruit bloom was about 25 per 

 cent of a full bloom. Currant worms and tent caterpillars are doing some 

 damage but are fewer than usual Perhaps half of our fruit growers 

 spray and the pi'actice is increasing. Farm help seems to be more 

 plenty than usual ; about one-fourth of it is good. Wages are from $20 

 to $25 per month with board and $1.75 per day without board. There 

 is a slight increase in the acreage of potatoes. 



Stow (G. W. Bradley). — I do not think the season is as forward as 

 usual. Pastures and mowings on high land are suffering for rain ; fall 

 seeding looks well as a whole. Apple bloom light and scattering, no 

 peaches, j>ears rather light, not many plums. Tent caterpillars and cut 

 worms are doing some damage. Spraying is little practised. There is 

 plenty of farm help but very little good help. Wages are from $12 to 

 $25 per month with board and from $1.25 to $1.75 without board. There 

 will be about the usual acreage of crops in this vicinity. 



Townsend (G. A. Wilder). — The season compares favorably with a 

 normal one. The promise for pastures and mowings is not as good as 

 last year and fall seeding did not winter well. The fruit bloom was 

 lighter than usual. Tent caterpillars are doing some damage. Spray- 

 ing is not generally practised but is on the increase. Farm help is 

 plenty and three-fourths of it good help. Wages are from $1 to $1.50 

 per day without board and from $12 to $20 per month with board. More 

 attention than formerly is paid to small fruits, peaches and plums. 



Chelmsford (P. P. Perham). — The season is far more backward and 

 cold than the normal. Pastures are backward and the outlook for the 

 hay crop is poor. The fruit bloom is much less than the average, espe- 

 cially apples. Tent caterpillars are doing some damage There is 

 little spraying done in this vicinity, less than ever this season. Good 

 farm help is scarce and about one-third of the applicants would be called 

 good help. Wages are $20 per month with board and $:30 per month 

 without. There are more apple and peach trees being set out this year 

 than usual. 



Teivksbury (G. E. Crosby). — The season compares fairly with a 

 normal season. Pastures and mowings are about 25 per cent off the 

 normal in condition. The fruit bloom is veiy light. Very little spray- 

 ing is done here. Farm help is scarcer than for several years and a 

 little over half of it is good help. Wages are from $15 to $20 per 

 month with board and from $1 to $1.50 per day without. There seems 

 to be a slight increase in the use of glass for forcing vegetables. 



Woburn (W. H. Bartlett). — Vegetation would be about with the 

 average if it were not so dry. All grass lands are feeling the effects of 

 the extreme dry weather. Apples are not over one-third of a full bloom, 

 pears full, cherries full, no peaches, quinces full. No insects are doing 

 damage as yet. Spraying is on the increase. Plenty of help, nearly all 

 poor, good help very, very scarce. Wages are $1.50 per day without 

 boai'd. I think about the usual acreage of crops will be planted Peas 

 are quite late. Potatoes and beans are also up. Cabbages are set out 

 but grow slowly. 



Arlington (W. W. Raavson) — The present season is very late. 

 Grass is very light in pastures and mowings. No insects are doing 



