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normal. Haying has not begun, but the crop promises well. There 

 is about the usual acreage of early potatoes and they promise well. 

 Prices of dairy products fully up to former years ; price of cows about 

 as usual. Pastures are in very good condition indeed. The outlook 

 for fruits and berries is very promising. 



WORCESTER COUNTY. 



West Brookfield (Myron A. Richardson). — The canker worm is 

 doing more damage to apple trees than in former years. Indian corn 

 has come up in fine shape and is looking well, though late on account 

 of cold and wet weather. Haying has not begun, but there promises 

 to be more than an average crop. The acreage of early potatoes is 

 normal. Market-garden crops are not raised here. Dairy products 

 bring good prices and are normal in quantity; good cows are scarce 

 and higher in price than for years. Pasturage is mostly good in 

 quantity, but lacks sweetness on account of cloudy weather. Currants 

 and strawberries are yielding well. 



New Braintree (Charles D. Sage). — Spittle insects, tent cater- 

 pillars and elm-leaf beetles are doing some damage. Indian corn is 

 very backward, but shows a good stand; acreage 50 per cent larger 

 than usual. Very little haying has been done, grass promising but a 

 little late. The acreage of early potatoes is 50 per cent more than 

 usual, and they are looking well, but many were planted late. Market- 

 garden crops are little grown. There seems to be a shortage of dairy 

 cows, with prices well sustained. Pasturage is in excellent condition 

 and stock of all kinds is doing well. Fruit is little grown, except 

 apples, but all kinds promise abundant yields. Farmers were generally 

 cut down on their ratings this spring and are making more milk than 

 they can sell at a living price. Milk is selling lower at the present time 

 than anything else on the market. 



Barre (John L. Smith). — No insects are doing any special damage. 

 Corn is small, but there is a larger acreage than for several years. 

 Haying has not begun; grass is thin, but growing fast. Early potatoes 

 are little raised. Market-garden crops are not raised here to any 

 extent. Prices are about the same as usual for dairy products and 

 dairy cows. Pasturage is in poor condition. Apples show a good 

 average setting of fruit. Owing to the dry weather last year, grass, 

 both in mowings and pastures, looked poorly, but it is now beginning 

 to thicken up somewhat. A large acreage of both late potatoes and 

 ensilage corn has been planted. 



Petersham (B. W. Spooner). — Potato bugs and a few tent cater- 

 pillars are doing damage. There is a good stand of Indian corn and it 

 is growing well; more planted than usual. No grass has been cut as 

 yet, but the prospect is good for a large crop. There is about the 

 usual acreage of early potatoes and the vines are looking finely. The 

 wet weather has kept gardens very fresh. There is about the usual 



