10 



ting was well under way in most sections at time of making 

 returns, and is now practically completed. 



Fruits. 

 Among fruits, grapes stand out in welcome contrast, by 

 reason of the good crop generally promised. Cranberries 

 also promise, at worst, a normal crop. Other fruits are very 

 poor taken as a whole. Apples have dropped badly and 

 even a smaller crop will be harvested than was anticipated. 

 Pears are not more than half a crop, and peaches are, practi- 

 cally speaking, a total failure. 



Pasturage. 

 Pasturage has fallen off since the last report, and at time 

 of making returns was quite short in all except extreme 

 western sections. Springs and brooks were also reported to 

 be failing in many sections. The recent rains have probably 

 done much to alleviate this condition, and to improve that 

 of pasturage. 



Oats and Barley. 



These crops are considerably below the normal, both as 

 to grain and straw, owing to the dry weather. As late 

 planted forage crops they have done fairly well. 



Poultry Keeping. 

 As in previous years poultry keeping is reported as gen- 

 erally on the increase, and in many sections much attention 

 is now paid to this branch of husbandry. This is, as always, 

 particularly true of the southeastern counties, where the 

 income from this source appears to fully equal that from 

 the dairy. The replies returned as to relative income were 

 not numerous enough to warrant any definite statement as 

 to other sections, but where an opinion as to the relative 

 profit of the two was given it was almost invariably in favor 

 of the poultry. That so many of our farmers find it profit- 

 able to keep poultry, practically without care, leads us irre- 

 sistably to the conclusion that with due attention poultry 

 keeping may be made one of the most profitable depart- 

 ments of the farm. 



