20 



FitcJihnrg (Dr. Jabez Fisher). — The season is much dryer 

 and a little earlier than last year. Grass is suffering for want of 

 rain. Apples had a very full bloom, peaches none, other fruits 

 moderate. Tent caterpillars are doing damage and there are some 

 canker worms and potato beetles. Spraying is practised only to a 

 small extent and is not increasing much. Good help is scarce and 

 poor help plenty. Wages are $20 per month with board and $1.50 

 jDer day without. The proportion of fruit raised is not large and 

 does not increase very much. The apple bloom occurred on 

 May 11 ; only twice in forty years has it occurred earlier. 



Bolton (H. E. Babcock). — The season is earlier than last year 

 and compares favorably. Grass started well, but has not grown 

 well, owing to drought. The fruit bloom was very full, except 

 peaches and pears. Canker worms ai'e doing great damage. A 

 great many are spraying and I think it is increasing. Help is 

 plenty, but good help scarce. Wages are $15 to $20 per month 

 with board and $25 to $30 without. Fruit production forms but a 

 small proportion of the general farming in this locality and in- 

 creases but little from year to year. 



Worcester (H. R. Kinney). — Crops that have not suffered from 

 drought are somewhat ahead of last season. Pastures and mow- 

 ings need rain badly. Early fall-seeded pieces look well. Apples 

 promise a full crop, but there will be few pears and no peaches. 

 Potato bugs are very plenty and currant worms are doing some 

 damage. Spraying is not at all general and is not increasing as 

 much as it should. Good help is never plenty, but I think quan- 

 tity and quality are about average this season. Wages are from 

 $18 to $25 per month with board and $1.25 to $1.50 per day with- 

 out. Apples are raised more or less and a few raise small fruits 

 quite extensively. On the whole, however, I think less fruit is 

 raised in this neighborhood than ten years ago. 



Upton (B. A. Jourdan). — Pastures and grass are very back- 

 ward, on account of dry weather. Fall seeding looks well, if we 

 could liave rain to bring it forward. Fruit made a full bloom, 

 except pears, which were very light. Very little spraying is done 

 here. Help seems to be plenty, but it is very hard to get good 

 help. From $18 to $20 per month and board is paid good help. 

 The production of small fruits is very light in this section. 



MIDDLESEX COUNTY. 



Pepperell (A. N. Blood). — The season compares favorably 



with last year. Pastures are drying up for want of rain and old 



mowings are light. The fruit bloom was a grand one, as large as 



I ever saw. Very few insects as yet. Spraying is not practised 



