No. 4.] MASSACHUSETTS CHOPS. xxiii 



Summary of Crop Conditions, 1905. 



The weather of May was so cold and dry that at its close 

 all vegetation was very backward and much in need of rain. 

 Pastures and mowings wintered well, ])ut owing to the lack 

 of rain there was little feed in pastures, and mowings were 

 also backward, but with a good bottom growth. There was 

 a fair bloom of apples for an off year, and the bloom of 

 pears, peaches, cherries and plums was unusually heavy. 

 Strawberries bloomed full, though late. There was very little 

 injury from frosts. Few insects appeared, and did little 

 damage. Spraying was practically confined to farmers mak- 

 ing a specialty of fruit, and, while all use insecticides on 

 their potatoes, comparatively few use fungicides to prevent 

 rot. Farm help Avas fairly plenty ; average ^vagcs, $20 per 

 month with board, and fl.oO per day, or higher, without 

 board. There was a slight increase in the acreage of corn 

 and decrease in that of potatoes. 



Insects did less damage than usual in June. Indian corn 

 was from a week to ten days late, but of good color and 

 growing fast. Haying was just beginning at the close of 

 the month, with close to an average crop of good quality. 

 The acreage of forage crops was materially increased. There 

 were numerous reports of poor germination of potatoes, and 

 the crop was uneven and backward. Early market-garden 

 crops generally yielded well, with prices somewhat lower 

 than usual. The flow of milk was well maintained, wdth 

 prices for butter and butter fat higher than for some time. 

 Dairy cows were somewhat easier to obtain than formerly, 

 with prices a little lower. Pastures were short and dry the 

 first of the month, l)ut improving materially towards its 

 close. Strawberries promised a fair crop ; cherries were an 



