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can be rated as good. "Wages $18 to $20 per month with board 

 and $1.50 per day without. 



Billerica (J. N. Pardee). — Season about two weeks later than 

 last for planting, otherwise compares favorably with last season. 

 Pastures and mowings are very good and fall seeding wintered 

 admirably. All fruits except winter apples have blossomed full. 

 Early corn was cut off by the frost of May 14 and fruit was 

 damaged to some extent. Some orchards are badly infested with 

 canker worms. Farm help is plenty but good help is scarce. 

 With board wages are $8 to $20 per month for the season, and 

 without board $30 to $40 per month. 



Winchester (Marshall Symmes). — The start early in May was 

 better than last year, but the frost lias set things way back. 

 Mowings and pastures are good. Fall seeding wintered well. 

 The bloom was very heavy on all kinds of fruit trees. The frost 

 of May 14 killed about half the beans and cut the potatoes down. 

 Canker worms, tent caterpillars and especially cut worms are 

 doing damage in this vicinity. Farm help is plenty and about 40 

 per cent is good help. Wages $15 to $20 per month with board 

 and $8 to $10 per week without. 



Concord (Wm. H. Hunt). — We have had great extremes of 

 heat and cold this season. Mowings are in good condition. The 

 bloom of peaches, plums and grapes was full, but they are all 

 killed by frost. Grapes were ruined by the frost of May 14, and 

 strawberries very much injured. 1 have grown grapes for thirty 

 years, and never lost a crop before from spring frosts. Canker 

 worms are troubling some. Farm help is as abundant as usual 

 and about one-half is good help. Wages are $18 to $25 per 

 month and board. 



ESSEX COUNTY. 



Newbury (Geo. W. Adams) . — Season later than last, but, 

 agriculturally speaking, a better one than last. Pastures and 

 mowings good and fall seeding wintered well. Fruit bloom below 

 the average. The frost of May 14 did slight damage to many 

 crops, but the damage can mostly be repaired. Canker worms and 

 tent caterpillars are troubling some. Good farm help is scarce ; 

 5 per cent honest and able-bodied ; 5 per cent honest but old or 

 infirm. Wages $1.50 per day without board (dinner frequently 

 added) and $16 to $25 per month with board. 



Marblehead (Wm. S. Phillips, Jr ). — Season is at least two 

 weeks later than last. Pastures are now excellent. Grass is set- 

 ting very thick. Fall seeding averages very well. Fruit bloom 

 as heavy as last year. Frost of May 14 did no very serious 



