18 



HAMPDEN COUNTY. 



Tolland (E. M. Moore). — The season is earlier than last year, 

 with weather favorable for planting. Mowings and pastures are 

 drying up and need rain. Fall seeding wintered fairly well. The 

 fruit bloom was quite up to the average. There is scarcely any 

 spraying practised here. Help is scarce and a very small propor- 

 tion can be called good help. Wages are $20 per month with 

 board and $1.25 per day without. The production of apples is on 

 the increase, but not much is done in the production of small fruits. 



Russell (E. D. Parks). — The season is not so favorable as last 

 year, on account of dry weather. The prospect for both mowings 

 and pastures is very poor. Fall seeding wintered quite well. 

 Fruit bloom was rather fuller than usual. Tent caterpillars are 

 quite plenty. But little spraying is done here. Good help is 

 scarce, but there is plenty of cheap labor. Wages range from 812 

 to $20 per month with board. Fruit production about one-sixth 

 of general farming and rather on the increase. Planting is back- 

 ward, as farmers are waiting for rain. 



West Springfield (T. A. Rogers). — Farmers are not over-en- 

 thusiastic in regard to the season. Both pastures and mowings 

 are not growing, for want of rain. Some fall seeding winter- 

 killed. There were few blossoms ou any fruit except apples and 

 plums. Canker worms, the elm-tree leaf beetle and tree lice are 

 doing some damage. Some are spraying, but to a limited extent. 

 Help is mostly good in this immediate vicinity. Wages are from 

 $18 to $25 per month with board and $1.50 per day without. Per- 

 haps one-eighth of the gross income of farmers is from fruits. 

 The ground is so dry that seeds sprout v6ry slowly. 



Wilbraham (F. E. Clark). — The season is rather later than 

 usual and very dry. We must have rain soon, or pastures and 

 mowings will suffer. Fall seeding winter-killed in many places. 

 The fruit bloom is more than double the usual bloom and the 

 promise now is for a good fruit crop. Tent caterpillars are 

 abundant and the potato beetle has shown himself. Spraying is 

 not practised as much as it should be. Farm help is scarce and 

 not one-fourth of those who apply are good help. Wages are from 

 $15 to $20 per month with board. The proportion of small fruits 

 is increasing from year to year. 



Wales (CiiAs. F. Crawford). — The dry weather has a bad 

 effect on the prospects for the season. All grass is in poor con- 

 dition. Fruits of all kinds blossomed full and the prospect is for 

 a good crop. Tent caterpillars are on the apple trees, but the 

 damage is not noticeable. Spraying is entirely unknown here. 



