16 



Chesterfield (Horatio Bisbee). — The season compares well 

 with hist year, although much later. Stock has wintered well. 

 Grass roots are in good condition. Fruit trees have not yet 

 blossomed fully, but promise a good bloom. Tent caterpillars 

 have appeared, but are not numerous. Farm help is paid $20 per 

 month with board, and $1.50 per day without board. 



HAMPDEN COUNTY. 



Blandford (E. W. Boise). — Season fully two weeks late, but 

 otherwise about the same as last year. Stock wintered well, above 

 the average. Grass looks extra well, and very little was winter- 

 killed. Fruit trees and early berries had a very full bloom. Tent 

 caterpillars are doing a little damage, but are kept down by hand- 

 picking. Prices for farm products during the past winter have 

 ruled high, and still continue well up. More farm work would 

 be done if help were not so scarce and high ; $20 to $25 is paid 

 per month with board, and from $1.50 to $1.75 per day without 

 board . 



Westfield (C. F. Fow t ler). — The season is a little late, but all 

 seeds have germinated well. Live stock has wintered better than 

 usual. Grass looks unusually well, but new seeded land winter- 

 killed somewhat in low places. The fruit bloom has been a little 

 more than an average. The tent caterpillar has appeared, but is 

 being attended to. Farm help is paid $20 to $30 per month with 

 board, and $1.50 to $1.75 per day without board. 



West Springfield (J. N. Bagg). — The season is backward, but 

 otherwise compares favorably with last year. Live stock, with the 

 exception of swine, wintered well. Spring ploughing is not yet 

 completed. Grass is in good condition. The fruit bloom is not 

 quite an average. Tent caterpillars have appeared, but are not as 

 common as in some years ; they are generally destroyed by burn- 

 ing. Good farm help is hard to get, at prices ranging from $1 to 

 $1.50 per day without board. 



Chicopee (R. W. Bemis). — The deep frost in the ground and 

 the wet spring have made planting backward. Stock wintered 

 about as usual. Grass is in good condition, and fall seeded grain 

 wintered well. Greening apple trees have blossomed full this 

 season. Potato bugs, currant worms and tent caterpillars have 

 appeared, and the usual remedies are being applied. Farm help 

 is paid from $6 to $10 per week. 



Wilbraham (H. M. Bliss). — The season is backward, cold and 

 wet. Live stock wintered well, but hay is scarce. Grass is in 

 good condition, but fall seeded grain winter-killed somewhat. 

 The fruit bloom is a full average, except that of Baldwin apples. 



