17 



Groton. — Season much dryer than the average. Vegetation 

 full up to normal. Have had four severe frosts since May 15. 

 Early vegetables have been impaired. Great loss by asparagus 

 raisers and early vegetable growers. The outlook for the hay crop 

 is very dubious. To a limited extent tent caterpillars are destroyed, 

 but the wild cherry trees are everywhere loaded with them, and no 

 one kills caterpillars on trees bordering the highways. Very dilli- 

 cult to get first-class help ; wages $18 to $22. 



Daniel Nkeuiiam. 



Sherhorn. — Owing lo drought and frosts the cro[)s arc backward. 

 With warm weather and rains the outlook would be good. Tent 

 caterpillars and leaf rollers are doing the most damage. Caterpil- 

 lars are being killed very generally with a stiff brush or simply a pole. 

 Help is as plenty as usual and the quality is as good. Wages 

 about $20 per moqth and board. N. B. Douglas. 



Winchester. — Crops started earlier, but frosts in JNIay retarded 

 growth. Season does not now promise to be a favorable one for 

 the farmer, as May has been too dry and cold with high winds. 

 It is ditticult to get first-class help, and such commands $20 to $30 

 per month and board There are regiments of poor, ignorant men, 

 a great many old men, applying for work. Not one in a hundred 

 can drive a horse or take care of one in a satisfactory manner. 

 They have been working with pick and shovel or in the tanneries. 



Marshall Symmes. 



PLYMOUTH COUNTY. 

 Kingston. — There have been but few warm days and they Avere 

 sultry. Ice formed the evening of May 6 thicker than window 

 glass. The month has been very dry and cold. At present the 

 outlook is rather discouraging. The tent caterpillars are doing 

 the most harm, and farmers are using various methods to destroy 

 them. First-class help is rather scarce. Wages $40 per month. 



J. H. CUSIIMAN. 



Lakeville. — Grass, rye and oats at this time are looking well. 

 There is a good prospect for an apple and pear crop. Strawberries 

 have been injured some by frost. The tent caterpillar is doing 

 the most damage. It is difllcult to get first-class help, and such 

 is paid $20 per month and board. E. Cusiiman. 



Marshfield. — On the whole the present season compares favor- 

 ably with last season. In this locality the uplands are dry and 



