16 



not yet fully developed. Here and there a tent caterpillar is seen, but 

 there is very little damage from insects. Good farm help at living 

 prices is out of reach. Wages range from $25 to $30 per month with 

 board and from $1.50 to $1.75 per day without board. There is no 

 apparent change in the acreage of farm crops. 



Chesterfield (Horatio Bisbee). — The season is cold, wet and 

 backward. Pastures and mowings are looking well; there was but 

 little seeding done last year. Pears are in full bloom ; apples not yet 

 out to any extent; no frost as yet. There are no insects doing damage. 

 On account of much wet weather, but little planting has been done, 

 icicle from potatoes. There is a fair amount of help to be had, and 

 mainly good help. Wages average $20 per month with board and 

 $1.50 per day without board. There is much more corn being planted 

 than usual, and a slight increase in potatoes. 



Middlefield (J. T. Bryan). — The season is several days later than 

 usual. Pastures and mowings are in excellent condition. There is a 

 full bloom of all fruits, and no damage from frost. There is no damage 

 from insects as yet. Very little planting has been done, owing to the 

 cold, wet weather. There is plenty of good help. Wages average $20 

 per month with board and $1.50 per day without board. More corn 

 than usual will be raised if we have suitable weather for planting. 



HAMPDEN COUNTY. 



Tolland (Eugene M. Moore). — The season has been rather cold 

 and wet. Pastures and mowings are looking finely. Fruit trees and 

 small fruits have bloomed full, and there have been no frosts to injure 

 them. Planting is progressing slowly, on account of cold weather. 

 Farm help is scarce, especially good help. Wages average $1 per day 

 with board and $1.50 without board. More corn and potatoes will be 

 planted than usual. 



Blandford (Enos W. Boise). — The season is late and cold, fastures 

 and mowings are in good condition, but fall seeding is not. There was 

 a full bloom of all fruits, without damage by frosts. No insects of any 

 account have appeared as yet, though a few tent caterpillars are seen. 

 There is more farm help offered than in past years, but not over half 

 of it is reliable. Wages range from $18 to $25 per month with board 

 and from $1.50 to $1.75 per day without board. More corn than usual 

 will be planted. It has been so cold and wet that there has been but 

 little planting done. 



West Springfield (T. A. Rogers). — The season is hardly up to the 

 normal, the weather being cool and rather wet. All grass land looks 

 well, and fall seeding generally wintered well. Apples, peaches and 

 plums made a full bloom; pears not full; all kinds of berries look well. 

 There are no insects except an occasional nest of tent caterpillars. 

 Planting is from ten days to two weeks behind the normal. There 

 seems to be plenty of help, and perhaps half of it is good help. Wages 



