22 



iug is but very little practised here. Farm help is scarce and not 

 more than one-quarter of it good. "Wages are from $16 to $20 

 per month with board and Si. 65 per day without board. There is 

 quite an increase in the acreage of potatoes planted. 



Canton (E. V. Kennedy). — Vegetation is a little earlier than 

 usual and seeds are germinating well. Pastures promise well ; 

 young stock all out ; grass excellent ; nothing winter-killed. All 

 fruit trees are unusually full of blossoms. A few tent caterpillars 

 have appeared, but no other insects. Spraying has not been 

 practised much, but is increasing. Good farm help is scarce, not 

 more than one-eighth of the supply ; always enough of the other 

 kind. Wages are $15 to $22 per month with board and $1.25 to 

 $1.50 per day without board. The acreage of potatoes will be in- 

 creased. The breeding of swine will be discontinued to a great 

 extent in this section, owing to the change in the manner of dis- 

 posing of the house offal by the city of Boston. 



Avon (S. F. Oliver). — The season is at present a backward 

 one. Pastures and mowings are in good condition and fall seed- 

 ing wintered well. Apples of all kinds bloomed very full. No 

 insects doing damage as yet. Spraying is not practised to any ex- 

 tent except on small trees and shrubs. Farm help is plenty, but a 

 small proportion only is really good help. Wages are from $15 to 

 $20 per month with board and about $9 per week without board. 

 There will be a larger acreage of grass land this year than ever 

 before. There appears to be a larger movement among the 

 farmers in this vicinity to put in crops for green fodder. 



Millis (E. F.Richardson). — The season is late at present. 

 Pastures are looking well and fall seeding wintered well. Tlie 

 fruit bloom is very large. No injurious insects have appeared as 

 yet. There was a great deal of spraying done last year ; none 

 done as yet this year, owing to the non-appearance of canker 

 worms. Farm help is plenty, but the proportion of good help is 

 very small. Wages are from $16 to $20 per month with board. 

 Farmers are raising more hay and fewer cultivated crops. 



Franklin (C. M. Allen). — The present season is about an 

 average one. Pastures, mowings and fall seeding are all in fine 

 condition. Nearly all fruit trees have bloomed full. I have 

 noticed but little damage from insects. Perhaps half our fruit 

 trees are sprayed and it is on the increase. Farm help is plenty 

 and 10 per cent is good help. Wages average about $18 per 

 month with board. No changes in the acreage of farm crops and 

 no new enterprises. 



