10 



vicinity. The abandonmeut of farm property in this locality was 

 greatest from fifteen to twenty years ago. My reason is that the 

 people had ver}' large families, and they found they could all find 

 employment in manufacturing villages, and not a few of them now 

 have good homes by so doing. Inquiries for and values of farm 

 property are not increasing but seem to be at a standstill. 



FRANKLIN COUNTY. 

 Monroe (D. II. Shekman). — Indian corn is a full average crop. 

 Late potatoes are an average in yield, but are badly decayed. 

 There have been but very few abandoned farms, and those are 

 doubled in with neighboring farms, and all occupied. Inquiries 

 for and values of farm properly are slightly increasing. 



Ashjield (A. G. Howes) . — Indian corn is above an average 

 crop. Late potatoes are a full average both in yield and quality. 

 Fall seeding is looking well. The abandonment of farm property 

 in this vicinity has been greatest in the last ten years, owing to 

 low prices of farm products and shiftless farming. I believe that 

 farm values have touched bottom, and although prices have not 

 perhaps increased, there is a better feeling among farmers, leading 

 to improvement of land and buildings. 



Northfield (Charles Pomeroy). — Indian corn is a full average 

 crop. Late potatoes are not an average crop in yield and quality. 

 P'uUy the average amount of fall seeding has been done, and it is 

 looking well. There are only five abandoned farms in this town. 

 Farms are abandoned because people like to work in villages, 

 where they can work in shops and mills and get paid weekly or 

 monthl}' in cash. There has been an increased demand for aban- 

 doned farms at about the usual prices for the last few years. 



Deerjield (Charles Jones). — Roweu is not an average crop, 

 but has been secured in good condition. Corn is extra good and 

 is ripening well. Late potatoes are of good quality, free from 

 rot and fair in quantity. Fall seeding looks well, and more than 

 usual has been done. Tobacco is an extra crop, has cured well 

 and been sold to some extent at fair prices. The abandonment 

 of farm property in this section was greatest from 1884 to 

 1881), owing to the low price of farm produce and the high price 

 and scarcity of good farm help. To-day the outlook is bet- 

 ter for farmers than for tlie past ten years. There are not many 

 calls for farms, but some sales, and I think the calls and tlie prices 

 are increasing. 



Orange (Ansel Harrington). — Indian corn is more than an 

 average crop. Late potatoes are more than an average both in 

 yield and quality. Very little if any fall seeding has been done. 



