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Topsfield (B. P. Pike). — Gypsy and brown-tail moth caterpillars 

 are doing some damage. Corn is backward on account of dry weather, 

 but is now growing well. The hay crop was below the average in 

 quantity and of good quality. Corn, oats and millet are the forage 

 crops grown. Peas were injured by dry weather. All fruits are very 

 much below the average. Pasturage is in the worst condition it has 

 been for years. Rye, oats and barley all suffered from dry weather. 

 Bees are not kept to any extent. Three-quarters of the corn grown is 

 for the silo. Market-garden crops are looking fairly well. 



NORFOLK COUNTY. 



Randolph (Rufus A. Thayer). — Elm-leaf beetles and potato bugs 

 are doing some damage. Indian corn is in fine condition and three- 

 fourths of the crop will be put into the silo. There was a good average 

 hay crop of good quality. Oats, Indian corn and millet are the prin- 

 cipal forage crops and all are in good condition. Market-garden crops 

 are in good condition, with yields and prices about normal. Apples will 

 be a small crop; grapes a full crop; pears fair crop. Pastures are in 

 fair condition, but high lands need rain. Rye, oats and barley are 

 good crops, but are used for forage only. All crops on high land now 

 show need of rain. Bees are not kept in this vicinity. 



Avon (S. Frank Oliver). — Elm-leaf beetles are doing some damage. 

 Very little corn is raised in this vicinity, but the crop in neighboring 

 towns looks well and nearly all goes into the silo. The hay crop is not 

 quite up to the standard, but was of good quality and well and cheaply 

 secured. A small quantity of wheat and oats are grown as forage 

 crops. Early peas and beans have done very well and brought good 

 prices; potatoes look well. The fruit crop is rather small and has been 

 injured by the San Jose scale and lice on apple trees. Pasturage holds 

 pretty well considering the very dry spell. Oats and rye are extra 

 good crops. Only now and then a hive of bees is to be noticed. 



Stoughton (Charles F. Curtis). — Potato bugs are causing the most 

 trouble of any insect. Indian corn is very backward ; 90 per cent of 

 the crop goes into the silo. The hay crop is up to the average in 

 quantity and of the very best quality. Japanese millet is raised with 

 Hungarian grass for forage, and both are waiting for rain to germinate. 

 The condition of all market-garden crops is very bad. Apples, pears 

 and grapes look well. Pastures are all dried up and cows are being 

 fed at the barn. Bees are kept in town and are on the increase, should 

 say about 50 hives. 



Norwood (F. A. Fales). — Potato bugs and squash bugs are doing 

 some damage. Corn is about two weeks late ; about the usual quantity 

 is being raised for the silo and there is a 50 per cent increase in the 

 acreage raised for grain. The hay crop was 75 per cent of the normal. 

 Hungarian grass and Japanese millet were the principal forage crops. 

 Market-garden crops are in good condition, but two weeks late; 



