16 



with good local help. Wages average $20 per month with board 

 and $1.50 per day without board. There will be a slight increase 

 in the acreage of corn. 



*o v 



HAMPDEN COUNTY. 



Tolland (E. M. Moore). — The present season has been cold 

 and backward and is about a week later than usual. Pastures are 

 looking well ; mowings winter-killed in spots by ice. Apples and 

 pears are in full bloom, and the freeze did not hurt them much. 

 Spraying is not practised to any extent in this locality. Farm 

 help is scarce and but a small proportion can be called good help. 

 Wages are from $18 to $20 per month with board and $1.25 per 

 day without board. I have noticed no marked changes in the 

 acreage of farm crops and no new enterprises in agriculture. 



Blandford (E. W. Boise). — The season is very near the nor- 

 mal, perhaps a few days late. Pastures and grass lands are in 

 extra good shape. Fruit trees are now in bloom, and with the ex- 

 ception of peaches the bloom is unusually full and the prospect 

 excellent. Very little spraying is done, but more will be done 

 this season than ever before. Farm help is scarce and not one- 

 f~'n-th of at good help. Wages are from $20 to $25 per month 

 "\ (&* , *, '-o $1.25 per day with board, and from $1.50 to $1.75 

 ner day without board. Farm crops will be about as usual except 

 that more forage crops will be put in. 



Russell (E. D. Parks). — The season is rather backward, but 

 is otherwise up to the average. The promise for pastures and 

 mowings is good at present, and fall seeding wintered fairly well. 

 Apples bloomed very full ; frost injured peaches and cherries. 

 Tent caterpillars have appeared. Spraying is practised to some 

 extent and is rather on the increase, with good results. Farm 

 help is scarce, and not more than half of it is good help. Wages 

 are from $.75 to $1 per day with board and about $1.50 per day 

 without board. There will be no marked changes in the acreage 

 of farm crops. 



West Springfield (J. N. Bagg). — The season is somewhat 

 backward. The promise for pastures and mowings is good and 

 fall seeding wintered well. The fruit bloom was very good and 

 was not seriously injured by frosts. No insects have appeared as 

 yet. Spraying is not much practised and there is no increase of 

 it. Farm help is scarce and the proportion that can be called 

 good help is small. Wages range from $1 to $1.50 per day with- 

 out board. There are no marked changes in the acreage of farm 

 crops. 



