24 



damage. Tent catei'iDillars and cut worms are doing some damage. 

 Help is reasonably plenty, although fewer "hire-outs" are about 

 this spring. Perhaps 60 per cent represents good and 10 per cent 

 first-class help. Wages $16 to $20 and board for good and first- 

 class help and $1 50 per day without board. 



IpsivicJi (0. C. Ssiith). — Season generally much colder than 

 last, and all vegetation is from a week to ten days later. Pastures 

 are in good condition,, and with sufficient rain hay promises an 

 average crop. Apple bloom smaller than usual. Pear trees 

 bloomed full and are setting much fruit. Tent caterpillars and 

 canker worms are doing some damage. The winter killed grape 

 vines where exposed to the winds. For the last week we have ha,d 

 fine growing weather. Good help is scarcer than medium and 

 neither is plenty. Not more than 30 per cent is good help. Wages 

 $1.25 per day without board and from $18 to $20 per month with 

 board. 



NORFOLK COUNTY. 



Medjield (Geo. R. Chase). — Season backward. Grass looks 

 well, but needs rain. Fall seeding wintered well. Apple bloom 

 very full for the off year. By the frost of May 14 apples, pears 

 and strawberries were injured and grapes ruined. Farm help very 

 scarce and about one in ten good help. Wages are $20 per month 

 with board for ordinary help, $25 to $30 per month with board for 

 a good teamster and farmer and $1.75 to $2 per day without 

 board. 



Franklin (C. M. Allen). — Grass roots went into winter 

 quarters rather weak from last season's dry weather, and the con- 

 sequence is grass will be thin, although it is now doing well. 

 Fruit bloom about 90 per cent of an average. Cranberries were 

 badly damaged and strawberries on low land one-half killed by the 

 frost of May 14. Cut worms are doing considerable damage. 

 Farm help is plenty and about 2 per cent is good help. Wages 

 $20 per month with board and $1.50 per day without board. 



Norfolk (A. J. Whiting). — Pastures and mowings prom- 

 ise well and fall seeding wintered well. No Baldwin trees 

 blossomed ; other varieties about an average in bloom. The frost 

 of May 14 injured grape vines materially, and killed all garden 

 truck above ground. Farm help equal to the demand and but a 

 small proportion is good help. Wages $15 to $18 per month with 

 board. 



BRISTOL COUNTY. 



Jiaynham (N. AV. Shaw). — Season fully up to last season. 

 Pastures are not as good as usual, and mowings were injured by 

 the drought of last fall. Fall seeding did not come up in time. 



