17 



Hampden, 85.8; ]^orfolk, 83.6; Berkshire, 78.8; the State, 

 89.6. Rain is badly needed for such upland pastures as are 

 not supplied with springs, and many of our pastures are so 

 scantily sodded ■ that frequent rainfall is necessary to keep 

 them in grazeable shape. 



Fruits and Berries. 



The berry crop prospect rather exceeds that for tree fruits. 

 Blackberries, in particular, bloomed full and offer promise 

 of a 91.5 per cent crop. Pears far exceed the other large 

 fruits, while plums are rated lowest, owing to light bloom and 

 frost. At present tlie outlook for apples is discouraging, and 

 doubtless reflects the depressing effect of the sight of count- 

 less trees stripped by tent caterpillars. The damage has in 

 reality been done to wild trees and trees not cared for, while 

 those sprayed suffered only from frost damage to the bloom. 



The fruit crop prospect table is printed in the special 

 summary of fruit crop conditions. 



Frosts. 



Frosts occurred June 7 to 10 in all counties save Essex, 

 ■K'orfolk, Dukes and JSTantucket. Temperatures ranged from 

 22° F. to 38° F. The most severe damage was done in Berk- 

 shire and Franklin counties, where grass, corn and nearly all 

 vegetables were damaged. Worcester County correspondents 

 ref)ort slight damage. Middlesex crops suffered more, with 

 " gi'eat damage to early market-garden crops " in one local- 

 ity, while frost " killed the strawberry crop " in another, and 

 cut beans, tomatoes, potatoes and vines in other sections. 

 Reports of damage in other counties are few and slight in- 

 jury done. 



NOTES OF GENERAL CROP CORRESPONDENTS. 

 [Returned to us June 27.] 



Berkshire County, 



Williamstoivn (S. A. HiCKOx). — Tent caterpillars are proving 

 most injurious at the present time. Condition of Indian corn is 

 90 per cent of normal; acreage, 80. It is hard to tell whether the 

 grass crop will recover from the dry weather; it Avill depend upon 



