16 



Farm help is very scarce, and it is hard to find a good man. Wages 

 average $1.25 per day with board. 



Plaiiifield (S. W. Clark). — The land is so wet that very little 

 plowing has been done. Grass is looking finely, and fall seeding 

 wintered well. No peaches here, other fruits about an average 

 bloom, with no damage from frosts. No insects have appeared as 

 yet. Farm help is rather scarce, mainly Polish, and fairly good. 

 "Wages average $20 per month with board for English-speaking 

 help, green men $15 per month and board. I hear that more 

 potatoes will be planted than usual, and very little corn, as good 

 seed is scarce. 



HAMPDEN COUNTY. 



Blandford (E. W. Boise). — The season is thus far cold, wet 

 and backward. Pastures and mowings look well, but many are 

 badly winter-killed ; fall seeding wintered well. All fruits and 

 berries show an extra full bloom. Tent caterpillars are appearing, 

 and promise to be plenty. Ver^- little spraying is done here. 

 Farm help is scarce, and not over half of it good help. Wages 

 average from $20 to $25 per month with board and from $35 to 

 $40 per month without board. There will be an increased acreage 

 of potatoes. 



Eiissell (E. D. Parks). — The season is favorable, but a little 

 late. Pastures and mowings are above the average in condition 

 at this time, and fall seeding wintered well. The fruit bloom was 

 up to the average, with no frosts. Tent caterpillars and currant 

 worms are doing some damage. Spraying is but little practised. 

 P^arm help is scarce, and not over one-fourth of it is good help. 

 Wages average $1 per day with board and $1.50 per day without 

 board. There are no marked changes in the acreage of crops. 



West Springfield (T. A. Rogers). — April was very cold, and 

 the season is two or three weeks late. Pastures look well, but 

 mowings were winter-killed by ice ; fall seeding wintered fairly 

 well. There is a nearly full bloom of apples, pears and plums; 

 no peaches ; strawberries winter-killed somewhat, but show a fair 

 bloom. Tent caterpillars and currant worms are doing some 

 damage. Very little spraying is done, and it is not on the in- 

 crease. Farm help is not very plenty, and perhaps half of it can 

 be called good. Wages average from $20 to $25 per month with 

 board and $1 to $1.75 per day without board. 



Wilbraham (H. M. Bliss). — The season is a fair average one. 

 Pastures and mowings look well, and fall seeding wintered well. 

 Apples and plums made a good bloom, but peaches are a failure. 

 Spraying is but little practised. Farm help is scarce, and 20 per 



