of importance was on the 19th, during which the rainfall, 

 largely from showers, was quite copious. The temperature 

 during the second decade, when taken from day to day, 

 was uneven, but when considered as a whole it varied but 

 little from the normal. The weather for the remainder of 

 the month was characteristic of the season ; clear to partly 

 cloudy skies, interspersed with well-distributed showers, 

 during which the rainfall was generally in small amounts. 

 The temperature of the last decade was continuously above 

 the average of the time of year, although there were no un- 

 usual excesses. Throughout the month the days were warm 

 and the nights moderately cool, resulting in a monthlj^ tem- 

 perature considerabl}^ above the average, and a daily excess 

 of from 2° to 4°. Thunderstorms were fully as frequent as 

 the average, and in some localities there was damage from 

 lightning and high winds. Hail accompanied the storms in 

 some sections, but was of little importance, as crops were not 

 sufficiently advanced to be materially injured thereb}^ May 

 as a whole was a very pleasant month, the weather being 

 well suited to outdoor recreation and to farm operations. 



In the circular to correspondents, returnable May 24, the 

 following questions were asked : — 



1. How does the present season compare, agriculturally 

 speaking, with a normal season ? 



2. What is the promise for pastures and mowings, and did 

 fall seeding winter well ? 



3. How did the bloom of apples, pears, peaches, plums 

 and small fruits compare with the bloom of former years, 

 and has it sujffered from frosts? 



4. AYhat insects appear to be doing the most damage in 

 your locality ? 



5. To what extent is spraying practised against insects 

 attacking fruit, and is it on the increase in your locality ? 



6. Is farm help scarce, or i)lenty; and what proportion 

 can be called good help ? 



7. What are the average wages paid farm help in your 

 vicinity, with board? Without board? 



8. Will there be any marked change in the acreage of the 



