No. 123.] REPORT OF COMMISSIONER. 9 



New England conditions were, on the whole, favorable, and 

 for our own State most crops had a fair season. Farmers can 

 undoubtedly look forward to a few more years of relatively 

 high prices, although it must be borne in mind that these high 

 prices do not always mean high profits. It is doubtful if those 

 farmers who keep books can show a more creditable profit on 

 this year's prices than they could on pre-war conditions. 



Massachusetts Crop Situation in 1919.^ 

 The past winter (1918-19) was comparatively mild, so that 

 fall-sown crops and fruit wintered well, including meadows and 

 pastures. There was no very injurious freezing in the spring to 

 hurt meadows, pastures or new seedings. The spring remained 

 cold and backward until quite late, thus retarding the planting 

 of most crops and vegetables somewhat beyond the usual dates. 

 At the end of April came the cold snap with frost and freezing, 

 which was then thought to have damaged heavily prospective 

 crops of peaches and apples; however, both these fruits hap- 

 pened to be in a stage of development where they were not 

 seriously hurt. Although the spring held cold and backward, 

 there was gradual increase of temperature and no severe late 

 frosts" occurred. 



The first half of the season, in fact until July 1, was acutely 

 dry in many sections of the State and was unfavorable for 

 grains, pastures and meadows. This condition was made worse 

 by some periods of unusual heat. The second half of the season 

 was wet, there being rather frequent rains and much cloudy 

 weather. This interfered with haying, although noticeably in- 

 creasing the hay crop. A good, heavy rowen crop resulted, so 

 that the total hay crop is well up to the usual. The fall months 

 continued very wet and cloudy. This seriously retarded har- 

 vesting and threshing operations; however, these conditions 

 develop the meadows and pastures well, so that they go into 

 winter in excellent condition. The fall has been mild with no 

 harmful temperatures to December 1. With the farmers fairly 

 well satisfied with their season's returns, the usual amount of 

 fall farm work and plowing has been done, except, perhaps, that 



i Statement furnished by Bureau of Crop Estimates, United States Department of Agriculture. 



