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Templeton (LuciBN Gove). — The season so far has been un- 

 usually cold and backward. Pastures are backward and not up 

 to the average J mowings the same ; fall seeding wintered well as 

 a rule though late sown did not. The prospect for fruit is favor- 

 able ; apple trees not yet in bloom. It has been so cold that 

 insects have not been troublesome. Spraying is but little practised 

 and is taken up very slowly. Farm help is more dillicult to get 

 this year than ever; about 20 per cent can be classed as good. 

 Wages range from $18 to $25 per month with board and from 

 $1.25 to $1.50 per day without board. The tendency is towards 

 raising increased amounts of forage crops as a substitute for the 

 hay crop. 



Ashbumham (Albert Needham). — The season is rather back- 

 ward. Pastures are looking well, but mowings winter-killed some- 

 what. Fruit trees are not yet in bloom except pear, plum and 

 cherry, but the bloom is likely to be a full one. Tent caterpillars 

 are doing some damage. Spraying is practised but little. Help is 

 hard to get. Wages are from $20 to $25'per month with board and 

 $1.50 per day without board. 



Fitchbury (Jabez Fisher). — The season is a day or two later 

 than the average of 44 years, in other repects an average. The 

 winter has been very favorable for grass and vegetation of all 

 kinds. Apples made a very full bloom, pears fair, other fruits 

 good ; frost did some damage to all, but it was in very few instances 

 extensive. There are a few tent caterpillars and bud moths. A 

 few practise spraying considerably and the tendency is for a slight 

 increase. Good help is scarce and poor plenty. Wages average 

 $20 per month with board and $1 .50 per day without board. There 

 are no changes of note in the acreage of farm crops. 



Bolton (H. F. Haynes). — The season is a fair one. Pastures 

 and mowings promise well ; some late seeded fields winter-killed 

 but fall seeding generally wintered well. There was a full fruit 

 bloom, but it was badly injured by frost. Canker worms are doing 

 some damage. There is more spraying this season than ever before. 

 Farm help is scarce, three-fourths of it is good help in this section. 

 Wages range from $20 to $25 per month with board and are about 

 $1.50 per day without board. There are no particular changes in 

 the acreage of farm crops. 



Worcester (H. R. Kinney). — The season has been rather Later 

 than the average. Grass does not look as well as usual. There 

 has been a full bloom on fruit trees, but it was badly damaged by 

 frost. Tent caterpillars are numerous but have not grown fast on 

 account of the cold weather. Spraying is not generally practised and 

 is not given enough attention. Farm help is not plenty and I think 



