22 



will be good. There is about the usual acreage of early potatoes 

 and they are looking well. Quantity and price of dairy products 

 fully up to the normal. Pasturage is in good condition. Straw- 

 berries are a good crop ; raspberries badly winterkilled and black- 

 berries entirely so. 



Northborongh (John K. Mills). — Potato bugs and cutworms 

 are doing some damage. Corn is uneven on some fields, while 

 others look well ; there is a full acreage. But little haying has 

 been done as yet, and there will be a full crop. Acreage of early 

 potatoes about as usual ; some fields look well, while poor seed 

 caused poor germination on others. There has not been a heavy 

 yield of early market-garden crops as it has been too cold, but 

 prices have been fully as high as last year. Butter and milk are 

 selling lower than last year ; little demand for cattle and prices 

 low. Pastures are in the best of condition. Strawberries, pears, 

 grapes and apples give promise of good yields ; peaches, black- 

 berries and raspberries have been such uncertain crops that the 

 land devoted to them has been much reduced, and there will be 

 few if any for market. 



Shrewsbury (Fred J. Reed) . — Rose bugs, potato bugs and 

 onion and cabbage maggots are doing some damage. Indian corn 

 is very backward and many have planted it over the second or third 

 time. Very little haying has been done as yet, but a good crop is 

 in prospect. There is about the usual acreage of potatoes and they 

 are looking well. Market-garden crops are looking well ; prices 

 about the same as last year ; prospect for later ones good if we 

 have rain. Milk seems to be plenty ; price of dairy cows a little 

 lower than usual. Pastures are in need of rain. Strawberries 

 have been very good, but are in need of rain. 



Hopedale (Delano Patrick). — There is but little damage from 

 insects. Indian corn is very backward and much has been re- 

 planted ; mostly grown for fodder. Some are about commencing 

 haying ; crbp very good and growing fast now. The acreage of 

 early potatoes is fully up to the average ; crop good but backward. 

 The quantity and price of dairy products are both above average ; 

 cows more plenty than formerly and prices a little lower. Pastures 

 are in very good condition. 



MIDDLESEX COUNTY. 



Ilopkinton (W. V. Thompson). — Cut worms and striped squash 



bugs are doing some damage. Indian corn looks well but is a little 



late ; acreage the same as usual. Haying has not begun and unless 



we have rain the crop will be light. The acreage of early potatoes 



