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present. Potatoes and onions are all planted, and corn nearly so; 

 tobacco not yet transplanted. Farm help is plenty, but of inferior 

 quality. Wages average from $20 to $25 per month with board and 

 from $30 to $38 per month without board. There will be increased 

 acreages of corn, potatoes and onions, and less tobacco. 



Montague (A. M. Lyman). — The season is a fair one, but a week 

 late. Pastures and mowings are in good condition, and fall seeding is 

 all right. There is a good average fruit bloom, and no damage from 

 frosts. Currant worms have appeared, and tent caterpillars are 

 numerous on the wild cherries. Potatoes are all planted ; corn perhaps 

 half in; early gardens are looking well. There is enough fairly good 

 help to be had. Wages average $22 per month with board and $40 

 per month or $1.50 per day without board. There will be a consider- 

 ably increased acreage of corn, and about the same acreage of other 

 crops. The growing of Japanese millet for seed is carried on extensively 

 as a money crop ; it is easy to grow, the labor being done mostly by 

 machinery. 



Northfield (T. R. Callender). — The season is somewhat late. 

 Pastures and mowings are in unusually good condition, and fall 

 seeding is looking well. All fruit trees bloomed abundantly, with no 

 damage from frosts. There is no complaint of insect damage as yet. 

 Planting is delayed by wet weather of the past week, but is generally 

 well advanced. Good help is always scarce. Wages range from $20 

 to $25 per month with board and average $1.75 per day without 

 board. There is more corn in process of planting than for many 

 years. I note one field of alfalfa, sown last fall without inoculation 

 with soil from old fields, or any special preparation, which stood the 

 winter well, is now well stocked and stands seven or eight inches high. 



Erving (Chas. F. Clark). — The season is an average one at this 

 time. The prospect is good for both pastures and mowings, and fall 

 seeding wintered well. The fruit bloom is above the average, and it 

 has not suffered from frost. I do not know of any damage being clone 

 by insects. Planting is progressing slowly. Farm help is fairly plenty, 

 and half of it is good help. Wages average $25 per month with board 

 and $40 per month without board. I do not think there will be any 

 marked change in the acreage of farm crops. 



HAMPSHIRE COUNTY. 



Greenwich (Walter H. Glazier). — The season has been cold, and 

 not up to the normal. Pastures and mowings are in excellent condi- 

 tion, and fall seeding is looking finely. There is a fair fruit bloom at 

 present, and no injury from frost. I have noticed no insects to date. 

 There is but little farm help hired in our town. Wages range from 

 $15 per month upwards with board and average $1.50 per day without 

 board. There will be no marked change in the acreage of farm crops. 



Prescott (W. F. Wendermuth). — The season is cold and backward, 



