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MIDDLESEX COUNTY. 



Hopkinton (W. V. Thompson). — Potato bugs are doing some 

 damage. Indian corn is looking well, with the acreage about the 

 same as usual. Haying has not yet begun, and the prospect is 

 very poor, as our mowing fields are all burned up. The acreage 

 of eai'ly potatoes is about the same as usual ; condition very fair, 

 but they need rain. Market-garden crops are not much raised. 

 The quantity and price of dairy products are about the same as 

 usual. Pasturage is dry in this vicinity. It has been too dry 

 for fruit and berries ; strawberries very light. 



Sudbury (E. W. Goodnow). — Canker worms are doing some 

 damage. Indian corn is very backward, and but little is planted 

 in this section. Haying has begun on old fields, with about 90 

 per cent of a normal crop. Potatoes are looking fairly well at 

 this time, but the yield is impossible to predict. Early market- 

 garden crops are about normal in yield and price, with the pros- 

 pect of better prices for those not harvested. The quantity and 

 price of dairy products are about normal. Pasturage is in very 

 poor condition. Strawberries are doing well on low land, but 

 there will be a small crop of fruit and berries in this locality. 



Boxborough (J. F. Hatward). — Canker worms are doing some 

 damage. Some fields of corn are looking well, others did not 

 come up well on account of dry weather ; acreage larger than 

 usual. Haying ha9 begun, with a small crop when compared with 

 the last two years. Rather more early potatoes have been put in 

 than usual, but some have not come up well. Early market-gar- 

 den crops are smaller than usual, with prices somewhat higher ; 

 with rain the prospect is good for later ones. Dairy products are 

 about as usual in quantity and price. Pasturage is in poor condi- 

 tion on account of drought. There will be a light crop of all kinds 

 of fruits and berries if there is not considerable wet weather soon. 

 The season has been the driest known for years. 



Ashby (Anson Wetherbee) . — Potato bugs and rose bugs are 

 doing some damage. Indian corn is a little backward, otherwise 

 quite good ; acreage about the same as usual. Haying has begun 

 on early fields with from one-half to two-thirds of a full crop. Early 

 potatoes are looking quite well, but need more rain. Milk is scarce, 

 price same as last year, butter is low ; cows are a little higher 

 than usual. Pastures are in very poor condition, owing to dry 

 weather. Strawberries, blueberries and blackberries are looking 

 well ; other berries and fruits will be a short crop. Yield of early 

 market-garden crops below average, price above, prospect is that 

 late crops will be rather light. 



