11 



later crops have also suffered from lack of moisture, and do 

 not now promise as well as usual at this time. Plentiful 

 rains in the future may bring them more nearly to the nor- 

 mal, but it is very doubtful if the injury can be entirely 

 overcome. 



Dairy Products. 

 The supply of dairy products runs about as usual thus far, 

 though some cases of shrinkage in milk, because of short 

 feed, are reported. The downward trend in prices for dairy 

 products appears to be arrested for this season, but nothing 

 like permanent improvement shows itself. Good dairy cows 

 are rather scarce in proportion to the demand, as has been 

 the case for several years, and still command good prices, 

 as a rule. The shortage of the hay crop will, however, tend 

 to prevent most farmers from increasing theii herds. 



Pasturage. 

 The long-continued drought of the last three months has 

 been very hard on pastures, and many complaints are made 

 that they have dried up or are drying up. Abundant rain- 

 fall in the future may carry them through the season in most 

 localities, but any future deficiency will inevitably result in 

 a shortage of pasturage. 



Fruit and Berries. 

 Strawberries suffered exceedingly from the dry weather, 

 and probably are not more than half a crop for the State as 

 a whole, though there are some reports of good yields. 

 Prices are much better than last year, however, and the half 

 crop of this year will probably exceed the phenomenal crop 

 of last year in money value to the grower. Raspberries and 

 blackberries set well, and with rain should generally yield 

 well. Currants are generally rather off. Apples did not 

 generally set well and have also dropped badly, hence the 

 prospect is not encouraging. Cherries have done well. 

 Pears appear a little off and plums not nearly up to the 

 average. Peaches are practically a failure, and many trees 

 will not recover from the effects of the severe winter. 



