12 



set very well and promise well at time of making returns, 

 but it is of course too early to form a definite opinion as 

 to the crop. 



Pastukage. 

 Pasturage was generally reported as having suffered 

 severely from the dry weather, and in some sections it is 

 practically all dried up. Some improvement is noted since 

 the recent showers, but frequent and copious rains are needed 

 to bring it to normal condition. The grass in pastures is 

 probably in poor condition to stand any extended period of 

 dry weather, because of the severe drought of last summer 

 and fall. 



Small Grains. 

 Rye apparently was a good crop in most sections, coming- 

 forward sufficiently early to escape the effects of the dry 

 weather. Oats on the other hand are reported as short and 

 badly rusted in many cases, so that the crop will be a jDOor 

 one, both for grain and forage. Barley is little grown except 

 for late forage, and is not far enough advanced to report on 

 for that purpose. 



Bee Keeping. 

 As expected, the bulk of the correspondents report that few 

 colonies of bees are kept in their towns, but only 17 report 

 that there are none at all kept. The interest seems to be 

 increasing and many farmers have a few swarms. Large 

 apiaries are not frequent, but nevertheless there is more 

 interest manifested than was the case a few years ago. 

 Farmers make a mistake to neglect these useful creatures. 

 Ten or twelve colonies can be kept on almost any farm, with : 

 practically no expense, and will furnish a fine table delicacy 

 for the home, as well as a surplus for market. 



