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Leicester (H. H. Kingsbury). — This is considered a backward 

 season. Pastures and mowings are in good shape, as well as fall 

 seeding. Pears, peaches, cherries and plums show full bloom; apple 

 bloom not out yet. Tent caterpillars are the only insects present. 

 Planting is much delayed by the cold, cloudy weather. As usual, 

 good farm help is scarce. Wages average $25 per month with board 

 and $35 without board. The acreage of corn and potatoes will be in- 

 creased this season. 



Auburn (Wm. Gilbert). — The season is a little better than normal, 

 as we are having more rain than usual. Pastures and mowings promise 

 well, and fall seed wintered well. All fruit trees blossomed well, and 

 the small-fruit bloom is extra full. Cut worms are doing considerable 

 damage. Planting is delayed, on account of so much cold and rain. 

 Farm help is very scarce, and only about 30 per cent can be called 

 good help. Wages average $25 per month with board and run from 

 $1.50 to $2 per day without board. There will be an increase of 75 

 per cent in the corn acreage. 



Mendon (J. J. Nutter). — The season is cold and backward. 

 Pastures and mowings are backward. The fruit bloom is fully up to 

 an average, and there has been no damage from frost. Planting is 

 progressing as well as can be expected for the cold and backward 

 season. Farm help is scarce, and but a small proportion of it good 

 help. AVages average about the same as in recent years. More corn 

 will be planted than usual. 



MIDDLESEX COUNTY. 



Sudbury (Edgar W. Goodnow). — The season is forward. Pastures 

 and mowings are looking well, and fall seeding wintered well. There 

 is a good bloom of all fruit, and it has not suffered from frost. Insects 

 appear to be doing very little damage. Planting is progressing 

 rapidly. Farm help is plenty, and about half of it good help. The 

 wages paid to farm help range from $20 to $25 with board and from 

 $35 to $40 per ■month without board. Farmers will raise more corn 

 than usual this year, owing to the high price of grain. 



Maynard (L. H. Maynard). — The season is late, and extremely 

 cold weather has prevailed. Pastures and mowings promise well, and 

 fall seeding wintered well under exceedingly unfavorable conditions. 

 The apple bloom is about half of a normal bloom; there are an 

 unusual number of dead peach trees; other fruits about normal, 

 with no damage from frosts. Gypsy and brown-tail moth caterpillars 

 are numerous, also asparagus beetles, potato bugs and cut worms. 

 Planting is progressing slowly. Good farm help is scarce, only a 

 small per cent being really good. Wages range from $20 to $25 per 

 month with board and from $1.50 to $2 per day without board. 



Stow (Geo. W. Bradley). — The season is a little later than usual, 

 I should say. Pastures and mowings look finely, but late fall seeding 



