14 



:n"otes of correspo^^dents. 



[Returned to us May 25.] 



BERKSHIRE COIJNTY. 



Neio Marlborougli (L. P. Keyes). — Pastures and mowings are 

 suffering from severe drought. Fall seeding did not winter well. 

 The apple bloom was very foil, but pears, peaches and cherries 

 showed few blossoms. No insects doing damage this season. 

 There is no spraying done here. Farm help is equal to the demand 

 and about half is good help. Wages are from $16 to $18 per 

 month with board and from 028 to $30 without. The production 

 of apples is on the increase. The drought is assuming serious 

 proportions in this vicinity. 



Becket (Wm. H. Snow).— -The season is fully as early as last 

 year and not quite as dry. Pastures and mowings look well. The 

 fruit bloom was full this year. The tent caterpillar is not as bad 

 as usual. I do not think spraying is much practised. Help seems 

 to be plenty at present and probably half of it is good. Wages 

 are $20 per month with board and $30 to $35 v\ithout. The pro- 

 duction of fruit bears a very small proportion to general farming. 

 Grass will be thin in some places, on account of the past two dry 

 seasons. 



West Stockhridge (Wm. C. Spaulding). — The season is ten 

 days to two weeks earlier than last year. Pastures and mowings 

 are needing rain, and will be light unless it comes soon. Apples 

 bloomed well, pears very little. Currant worms are doing some 

 damage. Spraying is not at all practised. Help is plenty enough, 

 half of it good. Wages $1.25 per day without board. Production 

 of fruits small and not increasing. 



Hancock (C. H. Wells). — The planting season is about the 

 same as last year, but fruit blossoms were much earlier. Pastures 

 and meadows are very dry and grass promises a poor crop. Fall 

 seeding is in poor condition. The apple bloom was abundant, but 

 that of pears, cherries and plums scattering. Tent caterpillars 

 and canker worms are doing some damage. Two or three farmers 

 are spraying and I think more are to follow. Farm help is not 

 plenty; perhaps one-third is good help. Wages are $15 to $18 

 per month with board and $22 to $25 without. The production of 



