14 



Yield of early market-garden crops good and prices reported low ; pros- 

 pects for later ones good, if we can have a little warmer weather. Good 

 cows are scax'ce and high ; dairy products are reported low, owing to 

 every one increasing his dairy stock. Pastures never were better. 

 Strawberries are good, raspberries and blackberries just past a very full 

 bloom ; apples fair ; pears, peaches and grapes all indicating a good 

 crop. 



Williamsburg (F. C. Richards). — Corn is somewhat backward, but 

 is looking well ; aci'eage less than usual. Haying has just commenced ; 

 crop abundant, but not quite as thick at bottom as last year. Rather 

 more potatoes are planted than usual, and the croi? looks well. Dairy 

 products ai'e about as usual in quantity and price ; cows higher in price. 

 Pasturage is in excellent condition. Strawberries are abundant ; no 

 raspberries and no cherries ; pears did not set. Nearly all varieties of 

 apples, with the exception of Baldwins, which set three-fourths of a full 

 bloom, will not give more than half a crop. 



Huntington (H. W Stickney) — Potato bugs are doing some damage. 

 Indian corn is looking well. An unusually large crop of hay is prom- 

 ised. Early potatoes jJi'omise to be a very good crop. Dairy cows 

 command good prices. Pastures are in unusually good condition. 

 The outlook for fruits is very good, especially for strawberries. There 

 is considerable old hay in the barns and there is likely to be some trouble 

 to find room for this year's crop. 



Plainjield (S. W. Clark). — Potato bugs and squash bugs are begin- 

 ning to work. Indian corn is late, but vigorous ; acreage about as usual. 

 Very little haying has been done, as the weather has been bad ; a heavy 

 crop is in prospect. There is about the iisual acreage of early potatoes 

 and about a normal crop is promised. Gardens are late, but otherwise 

 good. Our creamery made last month 5 j^er cent more butter and sold 

 half a cent higher than last year. Pastui'age is in very good condition. 

 An average crop of apples is now promised. 



Middlefield (J. T. Bryan). — Potato bugs are doing some damage. 

 Corn is backward, with a slight increase in acreage. Haying is just be- 

 ginning, with the prospect of a large crop. Avei*age acreage of early 

 potatoes and outlook for the crop good. All garden crops in good con- 

 dition, but backward. Dairy products low in price, but in good demand ; 

 cows in demand, at good prices. Pastures are in excellent condition. 

 Outlook good for all kinds of fruit and berries. 



HAMPDEN COUNTY. 



Russell (E. D. Parks). — Potato bugs and tent caterpillars are very 

 numerous. The acreage of Indian corn is about the same as usual, but 

 the crop looks very poor, on account of cold, rainy weather. Haying 

 has begun and there will be a very heavy crop indeed. Potatoes are 

 looking fairly well, notwithstanding the number of bugs. The quantity 

 and price of dairy products are fully up to the average for the time of 

 year. Pastures are in excellent condition. All fruit is looking very 

 promising at present. Good farm help is scarce just at present. 



Southwick(L. A. Fowler). — Potato bugs and cutworms are doing 

 some damage. Indian corn looks well, but is rather late ; acreage about 

 as last year. Haying has not yet begun, but will be in a few days and 

 there is the prospect of a fine crop. Early potatoes are in good condi- 

 tion, with the usual acreage. The yield of early market-garden crops 

 is good and the prices about as in previous years. The quantity and 

 price of dairy products are about as last year ; dairy cows scarce and 

 the price high. Pastures are in good condition. Strawberries are abun- 

 dant and cheap ; apples very promising ; cherries, blackberries and cur- 

 rants look well. 



Westfield (C. F. Fowler) . — Tent catei'pillars are doing considerable 

 damage. Corn is looking well, with a full average acreage. Haying 



