15 



they would have sold for previous to 1861. Not many farms are 

 entirely deserted here, but large portions of nearly all farms have 

 been allowed to grow up to brush and forest. 



MIDDLESEX COUNTY. 



Framivgham (H. S. Whittemore). — Indian corn is the best 

 crop for several years. Late potatoes are not an average crop, 

 owing to blight. Do not think the average amount of fall seeding 

 has been done, owing to pressure of other work on the farms. 

 Cranberries are not an average crop, owing to the dryness of the 

 season. Farm property is not much in demand just now. Apples 

 are a very light crop and poor in quality. Baldwins are a light 

 crop, except in the orchard of Mr. John Moulton of Saxonville. 

 His crop is excellent, of large size, very fair, and the trees are 

 loaded and worth going miles to see. 



Marlborough (E. D. Howe). — Indian corn is a full average 

 crop. Late potatoes are an average in yield and quantity. Little 

 fall seeding has been done. No abandoned farms here. Very few 

 changes are made except the owner dies, when the farm readily 

 finds a purchaser. Our local market is good, and nearly all our 

 farmers are comfortably well off. Taxes are high, but with a good 

 market we do not complain. 



Concord (W. H. Hunt). — Indian corn is a full average crop. 

 Late potatoes are an average both in yield and quality. The 

 usual amount of fall seeding has been done, and is in average con- 

 dition. Farms near the village have increased in value. There 

 are no artificial cranberry bogs in this vicinity. There are some 

 natural bogs which bear when the conditions are favorable. I 

 should say that the crop on such bogs was below the average. 



Littleton (G. W. Sanderson). — Indian corn is more than an 

 average crop. Late potatoes are an average crop in both yield 

 and quality. Do not think an average amount of fall seeding has 

 been done. Dry weather has been a drawback. The cranberry 

 crop will not be up to an average, on account of frosts in the 

 spring. The abandonment of farm property in this section is now 

 at its greatest. Inquiries for and values of farm property are not 

 increasing. 



Groton (Daniel Needham). — Indian corn is a full average 

 crop. Late potatoes are an average both in yield and (quality. 

 There has not been as much fall seeding as usual, on account 

 of drought. Cranberries are an average in yield and (juality. 

 Inquiries for and values of farm property are rather increas- 

 ing than otherwise. There are a few houses, built for farm- 

 houses,' that arc in a very dilapidated condition, and not fit 



