9 



usual farm crops, and do you note any new enterprises in 

 the line of agriculture ? 



Returns were received from 127 correspondents, and from 

 them the following summarj^ has been compiled : — 



The Season. 

 April was a cold month, and May opened from a week to 

 ten days late. The wet weather of the month operated 

 to delay farm work still further, and it is still somewhat in 

 arrears. Vegetation, however, advanced very rapidly, and 

 at time of making returns was well up to the normal. The 

 warm weather and frequent showers of the last ten days of 

 the month were also very favorable to vegetation, to the 

 germination of seeds and to early planted crops, so that the 

 season was probably as far advanced as usual at the close 

 of the month. The fruit bloom occurred very close to the 

 average date in all parts of the State. 



Pastuees and Mowings. 



Pastures and mowings wintered well, as a rule, although 

 ice lay on the ground in some low situations during the late 

 winter and early spring, badly winter-killing grass in those 

 places. The first part of the month was very favorable to 

 grass, owing to frequent rains, and gave pastures and mow- 

 ings a splendid start. The warm Aveather and showers of 

 the latter part of the month were also beneficial, and at time 

 of going to press the prospect for the grass crop was never 

 better at the same time of year. Fall seeding wintered 

 well, with the exception of occasional winter-killing from 

 ice, and, like all grass, got a good start and made good 

 progress during May. 



Fruit Bloom. 



The apple bloom was generally reported to have been 

 unusually heavy, though there are a few complaints of light 

 bloom on Baldwins, but probably sufficient for a good crop 

 with good future development. Peach trees were badly 

 injured ])y the cold winter in many localities, and many trees 

 were entirely destroyed ; the bloom was therefore very light 

 for the State as a whole, although a few localities report a 



