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employed and that mainly by the day. Including cranberries, the 

 production of fruit is an important factor in our farming and is 

 increasing. Asparagus is cultivated to a considerable extent. 



DUKES COUNTY. 



West Tisbury (Geo. Hunt Luce). — The season is somewhat 

 later than last year and crops are backward. The prospect for 

 pastures and mowings will be poor, unless it continues wet. The 

 fruit bloom was about average. Tent caterpillars are doing some 

 damage. Spraying is not practised to any great extent, and is 

 but slightly on the increase. Farm help is equal to the demand 

 and about one in ten is good help. "Wages are from $10 to $20 

 per month with board and $1.50 per day without. Fruit produc- 

 tion is very small and not increasing. 



NANTUCKET COUNTY. 



Nantucket (C. W. Gardner). — It has been very dry and every- 

 thing is backward. Pastures and mowings are in very poor con- 

 dition. Fall seeding is all winter-killed. What we call the turnip 

 flea is doing damage to beets, onions and early cabbage. There 

 is no spraying of any kind practised. It is hard work to get good 

 help that can be trusted to do good work and handle a team. 

 Wages are from $8 to $20 per month with board. Very little is 

 done in raising small fruits here, some strawberries and black- 

 berries. 



