15 



fruit forms only a small proportion of general farming, but more 

 attention is paid to small fruit each year. 



Cheshire (L. J. Northup). — Season somewhat in advance of 

 last year. Pastures and mowings are short, owing to the very dry 

 spell ; fall seeding looks well. Pears and plums did not bloom, 

 but apple trees never bloomed more fully. Spraying is being done 

 to some extent and is on the increase. The tent caterpillar is the 

 most plentiful insect. Farm help is plenty and good. Wages 

 from Sl8 to $20 per month with board ; without board, $10 addi- 

 tional. Small fruits are not much raised, but are rather increasing. 



WUliamstown (S. A. Hickox). — The season is not nearly 

 as favorable as last year. Pastures are poor and hay will not be 

 more than half a crop. The fruit bloom was good. Tent cater- 

 pillars are doing some damage. Spraying is practised to a very 

 small extent. Help is plenty and about 25 per cent is good help. 

 Wages are $10 to $20 per month with board and $25 to $35 with- 

 out. Fruit production forms a very small proportion to general 

 farming, but is increasing. 



FRANKLIN COUNTY. 



Rowe (J. F. Brown) . — The present season is better than last 

 year. With rain, pastures and mowings promise well. Fall 

 seeding is in better condition than usual. The fruit bloom was 

 never better. The tent caterpillar is doing some damage. Spray- 

 ing is but little practised and is not increasing. Farm help is 

 plenty and is all good. Wages are $1 per day with board and 

 $1.50 without. The production of fruits and small fruits is very 

 small. Spring opened early and we had a fine sugar season. 



Colrcdn (A. A. Smith). — The season is earlier by two weeks 

 than last year and dryer by four weeks. Fall seeding looks well, 

 but pastures and mowings need rain. The fruit bloom was much 

 fuller than last year, apples very full. Tent caterpillars and cur- 

 rant worms are doing some damage. Spraying is very little prac- 

 tised ; I don't know of a single instance in town. Farm help is 

 plenty, if you hire Polanders and such, and they are good, as a 

 rule. Wages average about $16 per month with board. The pro- 

 duction of fruits and small fruits is increasing. 



Comvay (J. C. Newhall). — The season is far from an average 

 one. No feed in the pastures, and without rain soon there will 

 not be half a crop of hay. Fall seeding looked well, but has not 

 grown much and shows much sorrel. Apple trees bloomed very 

 full, but other trees showed a light bloom. Tent caterpillars, 

 currant worms and grasshoppers are doing some damage. Very 



