12 



thermometer being at 90° in the shade ; then it was very 

 cold, and we had frosts and water froze. Hardly any rain 

 until the 27th, when we had a fine rain with thunder showers. 

 The 28th was very cool and windy, with indications of 

 frost." 



Southampton, Hampshire County. — " Season no better 

 than last. The frost of May 14 and 17, with about two 

 weeks of cold, dry wind, gave us long faces ; but the rain of 

 May 27 and the warm weather since caused a smile to come 

 again." 



Templeton, Worcester County. — "The winter was long. 

 Spring opened late. A hot, dry spell the first week in May 

 was followed by extreme cold from the 12th to the 23d; a 

 freeze the 2d and 14th and quite a snow-storm the 15th. 

 Now the season is quite favorable." 



Ipswich, Essex County. — " Season generally much colder 

 than last, and all vegetation from a week to ten days later." 



Dartmouth, Bristol County. — "The season opened very 

 favorably, but the last ten days having been cold and some- 

 what stormy have kept vegetable growth back." 



Sandwich, Barnstable County. — "Season about as early 

 as last, with more rain and a better outlook." 



Pastures and Mowings. 

 Some mowings and pastures are in excellent condition, 

 while many others are very poor. Old meadows and dry 

 fields will produce but a very light crop of grass. The con- 

 dition is perhaps less favorable in the western portion of the 

 State, where drought has been more severe, and where con- 

 siderable damage has been done by frosts. The correspond- 

 ent in Monroe, Franklin County, writes, " Many acres are 

 as brown as though fire ran over them." Fall seeding gen- 

 erally wintered well, although there are a number of com- 

 plaints of winter-killing. In the eastern portion of the State 

 the condition is generally satisfactory. 



Fruit Bloom. 

 It being an ofi" year for apples, the apple bloom was not 

 generally heavy, particularly that of winter varieties. The 

 bloom of pears, peaches, etc., was generally large. A num- 



