25 



BRISTOL COUNTY. 



Attleborough (Isaac Alger). — The season is about an average one. 

 Pastures, mowings and fall seeding are all looking well. Apples, plums 

 and strawberries show a full bloom. No insects have appeared as yet. 

 Planting is progressing fairly well. Farm help is plenty, and half of 

 it is good help. Wages average 120 per month with board and $1.50 

 per day without board. There will be more corn planted, and the 

 acreage of potatoes will be about the same as usual. 



Mansfield (Wm. C. Winter). — Vegetation is generally about a 

 week late. Indications for pastures and mowings are quite promising, 

 and fall seeding wintered well. Apples show a normal bloom; pears 

 below average; peaches and plums fair, but injured by frost; small 

 fruits normal. No insects have appeared except currant worms. Very 

 little planting has been done so far. There is probably all the farm 

 help that is wanted, but it is lacking in experience. Wages range from 

 $1 .50 to $1.75 per day without board. The acreage of the various farm 

 crops will be about as usual. 



Seekonk (John W. Peck). — The season is favorable, except that 

 excessive, cold rains have made it from a week to ten days late. 

 Pastures and mowings never looked better, and fall seeding looks well. 

 The fruit bloom is above the normal, with no injury from frost. The 

 striped cucumber beetle is the only insect I have seen. Planting is 

 progressing finely, considering the weather; low grounds were hard 

 to get onto early in the season. Farm help is plenty now, mostly 

 Portuguese, and three-quarters of it is good, reliable help. Wages 

 average $25 per month with board and $9 per week without board for 

 good help. I do not think the acreage of farm crops is increased. 



Dighton (Howard C. Briggs). — The season is late. Pastures and 

 mowings are in good condition, but fall seeding is looking poorly. 

 There was an average fruit bloom, and no frost. Elm-tree beetles are 

 doing some damage. Planting is late, on account of much rain. Farm 

 help is scarce and of poor quality, and not over 25 per cent of it is 

 good help. Wages average $25 per month with board and $45 per 

 month without board. There is a great increase in the acreage of 

 corn; that of other crops average. 



Acushnet (M. S. Douglas). — The season is much later than usual. 

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

 There have been no frosts, and fruit trees have bloomed heavily. No 

 insects have appeared as yet. Planting is rather backward, on account 

 of rain and cold weather. Farm help is scarce, and good help is not to 

 be had. Wages average $20 per month with board and $1.50 per day 

 without board. More corn than usual will be planted, and also pota- 

 toes. Market-garden crops are backward; peas have not come up 

 well nor made the growth they should. Strawberries have bloomed 

 heavily, and promise a large crop. 



