18 



is later than usual but is looking well. Market crops have been 

 lower in price than for many years. Grass and tobacco are the 

 best money crops this season. Potatoes are our least profitable 

 crop, for although the crop is large and of good quality the price 

 is so low that the farmer will hardly realize anything from the sale 

 of his crop. The profit of the season will be very small. 



HAMPDEN COUNTY. 



Blandford (E. "W. Boise) . — Root crops one-third below aver- 

 age owing to drought. Farm stock is in good condition, many 

 having fed from the barn. Fall seeding is in poor condition and 

 but little has been done on account of the drouglit. Prices would 

 perhaps average about 85 per cent of those of former years. Corn 

 has been our most profitable crop and potatoes our least profitable 

 one. As far as crops and dairy products are concerned the season 

 has been a profitable one, but the condition of mowings is such 

 that many must be reseeded, which will entail a large expense next 

 year. 



Westfield (C. F. Fowler). — Root crops are up to the avei'age. 

 Farm stock is above the average in condition. Fall seeding is in 

 better condition than for the last two seasons, but late-sown seed 

 does not look quite right. Prices are much lower than usual with 

 the exception of the prospect for tobacco, which looks better. Hay 

 and tobacco have been our most profitable crops and potatoes our 

 least profitable one. Crops are abundant but the low prices are 

 very discouraging. Prices are not settled for tobacco, but the 

 present outlook is favorable for fair though not exorbitant prices. 



West Springjield (J. N. Bagg). — Root crops are above the 

 average. Farm stock is in good condition. Fall seeding is light 

 and poor. Prices are low ; potatoes and onions are bought in large 

 quantities for from 30 to 35 cents per bushel. Tobacco and cab- 

 bages are unsold but are thought to be salable at fair prices. It 

 is hard to tell what crops have been least profitable ; hay is a light 

 crop with high prices ; potatoes and onions heavy crops with prices 

 very low. The season has not been a profitable one. Electric 

 and State road building monopolizes most of the help so that it is 

 scarce and high. 



Chicopee (R. W. Bemis). — Root crops have proved to be aver- 

 age. Farm stock is in good condition. Fall seeding has been 

 rather late. Prices for crops raised for market are not quite as 

 high as in former years. It is impossible to say as yet what crops 

 will be most profitable and what least profitable. Considered as 

 a whole the season has been a profitable one. 



