16 



last year's crop. Poultry is of small importance, though the in- 

 come derived may be 5 per cent of that derived from the dairy. 

 Wells and brooks are very low, although the surface of the ground 

 is well watered. 



WORCESTER COUNTY. 



Dudley (J. J. Gilles). — Indian corn, which was late in the 

 early part of the season, made unprecedented growth during the 

 late hot spell, has eared out well and is fully up to the average in 

 condition. The prospect for rowen is also an average with former 

 years. Late potatoes are rather small in size, vines blighted, but 

 no rot as yet. Apples set an immense crop and it is remarkable 

 how few have dropped off. Pears and peaches are a failure. 

 Pasturage is in good condition. Oats made a heavy growth, but 

 nine-tenths of the crop was cut green. 



Oakham (Jesse Allen) . — Corn is in good condition and has 

 a very rank growth. The prospect for rowen is much better than 

 usual. Blight has killed the potato vines and the crop will be 

 light. Apples and grapes are good. Pastures are in excellent 

 condition. Oats and barley are full average crops. Considerable 

 poultry raised, many finding it more profitable than the dairy ; 

 the income derived is perhaps one-sixth that derived from the 

 dairy. 



Petersham (S. B. Cook). — Corn is in prime condition, there 

 being a large growth of stalk and the ears set well. There will be 

 much more rowen than usual. There is complaint of a small yield 

 of potatoes ; blight and rot only slight as yet. Apples and grapes 

 are abundant, but there are very few pears and peaches. Pastur- 

 age is in prime condition. Oats and barley are fully equal to 

 former crops. There is considerable interest in poultry ; should 

 say the income derived from it is one-half that from the dairy. 



Princeton (Preston Knight) . — Corn is in very good condition. 

 Rowen will average well with previous years. Many fields of 

 potatoes have blighted badly. Apple crop heavy and very fair, 

 pears scarce, some grapes and cranberries. Pasturage is in very 

 good condition. Oats and barley are fully 10 per cent better than 

 last year's crops. Not much attention is paid to poultry. In my 

 case poultry pays fully 50 per cent better than the dairy. 



Fitchburg (Dr. Jabez Fisher) . — Indian corn is in very prom- 

 ising condition. There will be little or no rowen. Drought will 

 shorten the potato crop considerably. Apples very fine, pears 

 meagre, no peaches, grapes very good. Pastures are only in fair 

 condition. Everyone keeps a limited amount of poultry, mostly 

 at a fair profit for the amount invested. In this locality the ground 



