16 



HAMPSHIRE COUNTY. 



Prescott (W. F. Wendermdth). — Potato bugs are doing some 

 damage. Corn is backward fully ten days ; acreage 90 per cent of 

 the normal. Haying has not yet begun, but a full average crop is 

 in prospect. Acreage of early potatoes about as usual and condi- 

 tion normal. Quantity of dairy products a little above the aver- 

 age and prices a little below ; good cows command good prices. 

 Pasturage is in good condition. Apples have failed to such an 

 €xtent that the crop will not be anything near what the bloom 

 promised. 



Amherst (Wm. P. Brooks). — Onion maggots are doing an 

 exceptionally serious amount of damage ; potato bugs and cab- 

 bage maggots are also present. Indian corn is very small for the 

 season, but on all except exceptionally wet fields looks healthy 

 and is growing well. Haying has not generally begun, but the 

 crop is exceptionally heavy. Acreage of early potatoes slightly 

 increased and condition of crop good. Peas extra good ; other 

 market-garden crops average ; prices good. No material change 

 in quantity and price of dairy products or in supply and price of 

 dairy cows. Pastures are in excellent condition. Strawberries 

 are a good crop ; raspberries and blackberries winterkilled badly ; 

 apples and currants promise well, though some varieties of apples 

 did not set well. 



South Hadley (H. W. Gatlord). — Potato bugs and currant 

 worms are doing some damage, though not unusually plenty. 

 Corn has looked poorly, but the past few warm days have improved 

 it very much; acreage increased 12 to 15 per cent. Very little 

 grass cut as yet ; crop not as good as expected, being one-fourth 

 short on many fields. Acreage of early potatoes increased 15 per 

 cent and they are growing finely ; less late potatoes than usual 

 planted. Market-garden crops are below average in general con- 

 dition, but prices are unusually good. Quantity of dairy products 

 fully up to the demand and prices slowly declining. Pastures are 

 poor in many places, owing to stock being turned into them too 

 early. Strawberries are very plenty and fine ; raspberries and 

 blackberries look promising ; currants not up to the average. 



Northampton (H. C. Comins). — Potato bugs are doing some 

 damage. Indian corn is very backward and uneven ; acreage 

 about the same as in other years. Not much haying done yet, 

 but there is prospect of a very heavy crop. The acreage of potatoes 

 is increased and they are looking finely. Early market-garden 

 crops are rather short, but prices are good ; prospect only fair for 

 later ones. Quantity of dairy products good ; cows are abundant 



