16 



Bolton. — Season ten days early. The asparagus beetle is the 

 only insect troubling much yet, although potato bugs are plenty. 

 There is do good help. Twenty dollars average wages per month". 

 ( Mitlook good. We have had an abundance of rain, but not 

 enough to do any damage. Seeds have come up this season fully 

 as well as usual, although corn has rotted some 01; low land. 

 Potatoes never looked better. 



II. F. Haynes. 



Dudley. — Season ten days early. The tent-caterpillar and 

 "spit bug" are doing the most damage. Good help eighteen 

 dollars per month with board, and one dollar and one-half per day 

 without, for short jobs. We have a superabundance of tent-cater- 

 pillars. A wild cherry upon the roadside, which is not thus orna- 

 mented, is a rarity. The quality of not a few fields of grass will 

 be affected by the attacks of the " spit bug" — a small yellow 

 bug which conceals itself within a spittle-like froth. Its larva? 

 eat into the seed stalk, causing it to die prematurely, and mak- 

 ing it no better than so much straw. Generally the outlook is 

 encouraging. 



J. J. GlLLES. 



Leominster. — Season two weeks early. The Colorado potato 

 beetle, curculio and the tent-caterpillar have been numerous, but 

 the rapid growth of leaves has saved from much injury. Good 

 help plenty at one dollar and one-half per day and twenty dollars 

 per month. Outlook favorable. The early part of May was 

 remarkably warm. I think the hot sun had a bad effect on the 

 pear blossoms, for, though the trees blossomed full, many varie- 

 ties have but few pears on them. Our average precipitation for 

 the past six years for May was 3.558 inches. This May we have 

 had 4.31 inches. 



W. B. Hosmer. 



Mendon. — Season fully three weeks early. Tent-caterpillars 

 are doing the most damage. Good help is in fair supply, at one 

 dollar per day and board, or one dollar and one-half without. 

 The season thus far has been very fine for the farmer, and some 

 are ready for hoeing. Our farmers mowed and cured their rye 

 and had a fair crop as early as the 15th. 



H. C. Adams. 



