23 



ESSEX COUNTY. 



Amesbury (F. W. Sargent). — The season is rather better than 

 the normal, cool and with plenty of rain. Pastures and mowings 

 promise considerably better than last year and fall seeding wintered 

 well. Fall apples made a good bloom, pears abundant, peaches 

 plenty. Tent caterpillars and white grubs are doing some damage. 

 Spraying is the popular method of fighting insects and is gradually 

 increasing. Farm help is not plenty and less than ten per cent is 

 good help. Wages are $16 to $20 per month with board and $1.50 

 per day without. The acreage of potatoes, cabbage and onions is 

 increased possibly 5 per cent. 



G7'Ovela7id (Abkl Stickney). — The present season compares 

 well with any season. Pastures and mowings promise well and 

 fall seeding wintered well. Apples had a light bloom, other fruits 

 above average. Tent caterpillars are doing some damage. Spray- 

 ing is not practised to any great extent, but is on the increase. 

 Farm help is scarce and not over half is good. Wages are $15 to 

 $20 per month with board and $1.00 to $1.50 per day without. 

 The acreage of farm crops is increased as a whole. 



Andover (M. H. Gould) . — The season is a little late. Pastures 

 and mowings promise very well and fall seeding wintered well. 

 Pears bloomed well, as did apples for an odd year. Tent cater- 

 pillars are doing some damage. Spraying is not practised. Help 

 is plent}^ and one out of six is good. Wages are $15 to $20 per 

 month with board and $30 to $40 without. The acreage of farm 

 crops is about the same as usual. 



Topsfield (B. P. Pike). — The present season is about an aver- 

 age one. Pastures are good and fall seeding very fair. Pears, 

 peaches and plums bloomed very full ; apples 25 per cent. Spray- 

 ing is on the increase ; generally used against the canker worm. 

 Help is not very plenty and ten per cent is good help. Wages are 

 $16 to $22 per month with board and $1.50 per day without. No 

 marked change in the acreage of farm crops. 



Ipswich (O. C. Smith). — The season is earlier than usual, with 

 more rain. Pastures and mowings are in good shape and fall seed- 

 ing is generall}' good. Cherries and pears made a good average 

 bloom, while apples made about tweut}' per cent. Tent caterpillars 

 and cut worms are doing some damage. Most farmers spray for 

 canker worms and the practice is increasing. Help about fills the 

 demand and about 40 per cent is first class. Wages are $18 to 

 $28 per month with board and $1.25 to $1.50 per day without. 

 Farm crops will be about the same as last year. 



