9 



with more sunshine and summer temperature of about 80° or 

 slightly above on the 19th and 20th. The last week of the 

 month was remarkable for the amount of cloudiness and rain ; 

 at Boston about 3.25 inches of rain fell during the four days 

 from the 24th to 27th inclusive. This extended cloudiness 

 and storm was caused by the very slow passage of a storm 

 up the Atlantic coast, where it remained stationary south of 

 New England for about forty-eight hours. No high gales 

 accompanied this storm, but the temperature remained low, 

 with much fog and thick weather along the coast sections 

 until the closing days of the month. Taken together, April 

 and Ma}^ have been most unftivorable for farming operations, 

 and, unless June brings bright, sunny weather, many crops 

 will be almost complete failures. This cold, cloudy weather, 

 which has been so prevalent during the past two months, has 

 been largely caused by the passage of many storms to the 

 south of New England instead of down the St Lawrence 

 valley, as is usual at this time of the year, when they cause 

 showery rather than stormy conditions. 



In the circular to correspondents returnable May 23, the 

 following questions were asked : — 



1. How does the present season compare, agriculturally 

 speaking, with a normal one? 



2. What is the promise for pastures and mowings, and 

 did fall seeding winter well? 



3. How did the fruit bloom compare with the bloom of 

 former years ? 



4. What insects appear to be doing the most damage in 

 your locality? 



5. To what extent is spraying practised against insects 

 attacking fruit, and is it on the increase in your locality? 



6. Is farm help scarce, or plenty ; and what proportion 

 would you call good help? 



7. What wages, with board and without board, are paid 

 farm help in your vicinity? 



8. Will there be any marked change in the acreage of 

 the usual farm crops, and do you note any new enterprises 

 in the line of agriculture ? 



Returns have been received from 184 correspondents, and 

 from them the following summary has been made up : — 



