13 



cultivated but are now allowed to grow to wood, and pastures the 

 same, the owueis perhaps thinking this the most profitable, as good 

 help is scarce and high. 



Brimfield (S. W. Brown). — Indian corn is the best crop we 

 have had for ten years. Late potatoes are an average both ia 

 yield and quality. The average amount of fall seeding has not 

 been done, and what has is not looking well. Abandonment of 

 farm property commenced soon after 1874. Labor being high and 

 produce not selling as in former years, war prices having made 

 us extravagant, to make both ends meet we thought we must do 

 something else to get more money. There are no inquiries for 

 farm property, and we can hardly get a bid at public auction. 



WORCESTER COUNTY. 



Spencer (H. H. Kingsbury) . — Indian corn is a full average 

 crop. Late potatoes are up to the average both in yield and 

 quality. No fall seeding has been done thus far. No cultivated 

 cranberries, but the wild ones are 'average in quantity but slow in 

 ripening. I cannot give any particular time when the abandon- 

 ment of farm properly was greatest. Know of only two causes, — 

 unproductiveness of stjil, and old age or lack of energy on the 

 owners' part. There is no change in the number of inquiries ; 

 values are firm, possibly on the rise, owing to the opening of the 

 Worcester, Spencer & Leicester Electric Railroad. 



Barre (J. L. Smith). — Indian corn is a full average crop. Late 

 potatoes ai'e an average crop both in yield and quality. There has 

 not been as much fall seeding as usual done, but it looks fairly 

 well, although in need of rain. There are very few if any aban- 

 doned farms in this section. Quite a good many have no one 

 living on them, but they are used for pasture for young cattle and 

 for fattening beef. Most of them are some miles from railroads 

 and on bad roads. Two or three years ago, when beef was low, 

 most of them were only partly stocked, but this year I think they 

 are all full of cattle. Inquiries for and values of farm property 

 are increasing, and quite a number of farms have been sold to 

 parties from Boston and other places within about a year. 



Templeton (Lucien Gove). — Indian corn is a better crop than 

 usual. Late potatoes are a better crop in yield and quality than 

 for the last four years. The average amount of fall seeding has 

 been done, but it is below the average in condition, owing to 

 drought. The abandonment of farm property' was greatest in this 

 section from 1875 to 1885. Reasons were, high taxes and low 

 prices for products, and abandonment was usually preceded by 

 fire. There is no perceptible change in the inquiries for and 

 values of farm property. 



