14 



proportion of it can be called good help. Wages average from 

 $20 to $25 per month with board and from $35 to $40 per month 

 without board. No changes in the acreage of farm crops. 



Erving (C. F. Clark). — The season compares favorably with 

 the normal. Pastures and mowings promise well, and fall seeding 

 wintered well. There is about an average fruit bloom, and no 

 damage from frosts. Very little damage is being done by insects. 

 Spraying is but little practised, but is increasing somewhat. 

 Farm help is not very plenty ; one-half of it is good. Wages 

 average $17 per month with board and $1.25 per day without 

 board. There will be no marked changes in the acreage of farm 

 crops. 



North Orange (A. C. White). — Wet and cool weather have 

 pushed the grass crop, but delayed planting. Pastures and mowing 

 look finely, and fall seeding wintered well. Fruit trees of all 

 kinds are white with blossoms, A few tent caterpillars are the 

 only insects that have appeared. Spraying is but little practised, 

 but is rather increasing. Farm help is scarce, and is mostly local 

 help. Wages average 15 cents per hour with board and 20 cents 

 per hour without board. There will be about the usual acreage of 

 farm crops, though continued cool weather would result in a de- 

 creased acreage of corn. 



HAMPSHIRE COUNTY. 



Prescott (W. F. Wendermdth). — The season is two or three 

 weeks late. Pastures and mowings promise well ; fall seeding 

 winter-killed somewhat. There is a heavy bloom of all fruits 

 except peaches, with no damage as yet from frosts. No insect 

 pests have appeared as yet. Spraying is not practised. Farm 

 help is scarce, and perhaps half of it is good help. Wages average 

 $22 per month with board, and $1.25 to $1.50 per day without 

 board. There will be the usual acreage of farm crops. 



Amherst (Wm. P. Brooks). — The season is still somewhat 

 late, and work is generally behind because of frequent rains. 

 Pastures and mowings promise much better than usual ; fall 

 seeding wintered well, except in spots where ice formed on the 

 ground. Apples, except Baldwins, blooming full ; peaches prac- 

 tically no bloom ; plums and pears full ; currants very full ; black- 

 berries and raspberries badly winter-killed and not yet in bloom. 

 No insects are especially noticeable. Spraying is practised only 

 by those who make fruit a specialty, and is increasing but slowly. 

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

 $35 to $45 per month without board. There are few changes in 



