15 



products are quite up to former years in quantity and price. Pas- 

 turage is in good condition. There was a splendid crop of straw- 

 berries. 



Belchertown (H. C. West) . — Little complaint of insects, though 

 there are some squash bugs and potato beetles. Acreage of corn 

 fully up to former years and looking well. Very little hay cut as 

 yet ; prospect fair and crop good on moist ground. Full average 

 acreage or more of early potatoes and they are looking well. 

 Quantity of dairy products fully up ; prices lower than for years ; 

 cows looking well. Pastures have improved wonderfully since the 

 rains. Apples, pears and peaches are below the average, but ber- 

 ries of all kinds bid fair to be a full crop. 



North Hadley (H. C. Russell). — Cut worms are hard at work 

 on all crops. Very few insects attacking fruit trees. Corn is 

 looking well and the acreage is about the same as usual. No hay- 

 ing done yet ; grass will be light but has improved in the last 

 three weeks. Early potatoes look well ; no larger acreage than 

 usual. Yield of early market-garden crops good ; prices as usual. 

 Full amount of dairy products but price lower than for several 

 years. Pastures have not fully recovered from the early drought. 

 Apples promise an average crop ; large crop of strawberries and 

 very nice. 



Southampton (C. B. Lyman). — White grubs, cut worms and 

 potato bugs are all doing damage. Indian corn is looking fairly 

 well and the acreage is fully up to former years. Haying has just 

 commenced and the crop will be below the average. Acreage of 

 early potatoes fully average, but the condition is off at present. 

 Quantity of dairy products fully average ; price from two to four 

 cents less ; stock looking well. Pasturage is hardly average in 

 condition. Apples have not set well and the crop will be hardly 

 an average for an even year. 



Williamsburg (F. C. Richards). — Cut worms in gardens cause 

 some trouble ; fruit insects are not troublesome. Corn is back- 

 ward but the acreage is about as formerly. Haying has not fairly 

 begun and the prospect is for a short crop. Dairy stock is in a 

 healthy condition. Pasturage is in poor condition but is improv- 

 ing under the recent rains. Strawberries and raspberries good ; 

 very few quinces ; very few pears ; no cherries ; no peaches ; 

 apples good. Grass is thickening up at the bottom but not 

 enough to insure a guod crop. 



Chesterfield (Horatio Bisbee). — Corn is looking well, but I 

 think there is not so much planted as last year. Haying not com- 

 menced and prospects for the crop rather poor. Early potatoes 

 are aboat the same acreage as last year and are looking well. 



