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Recent rains will start mowings ; sun and warmth lis needed for 

 pastures; fall seeding wintered poorly. All fruits had a full 

 bloom. No insects but tent caterpillars are in sight as yet. 

 Spraying is not extensively practised and is not increasing. Farm 

 help is in moderate supply and of fair quality; about one-half 

 can be called good. Wages average $20 per month with board 

 and $40 per month without board. The acreage of farm crops is 

 about the same as usual ; nothing new in agriculture. 



Haverhill (Eben Webster). — The season is a little more back- 

 ward than usual. Pastures are quite good ; mowings winter-killed 

 somewhat ; fall seeding in fair condition. Apples, pears, plums 

 and cherries made a large bloom and the frost did not do much 

 damage. No insects have appeared as yet. Spraying is practised 

 to a slight extent, and there is not much increase. Farm help is 

 plenty, and half of it is fair to good. Wages are from $18 to $20 

 per month with board and $1.50 per day without board. There 

 is no marked change in the acreage of farm crops. 



North Andover (Peter Holt, Jr.). — The season is cold, late 

 and wet. Pastures are looking well ; fall seeding is good, espe- 

 cially that which was put in late. All kinds of fruit made a full 

 bloom. No insects have appeared as yet. Very few of our farm- 

 ers spray. Help is scarce, but perhaps half is good help if you 

 don't set the standard too high. Wages are $20 per month with 

 board and $1.50 per day without board. There will be about the 

 usual acreage of the ordinary farm crops ; this is a milk raising 

 section and mostly fodder crops are raised. 



Newbury (G. W. Adams). — The season is very late and cold. 

 Pastures, mowings and fall seeding wintered fairly well. There 

 appears to be a very full fruit bloom, which was not greatly 

 injured by frost. Caterpillars and canker worms are doing some 

 damage. Perhaps half our farmers spray and the practice is in- 

 creasing very slightly. Decent help is very scarce ; perhaps 3 per 

 cent are good help but their price is excessive. Wages range 

 from $16 to $26 per mouth with board and $1.50 per day without 

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

 crops and no new enterprises in agriculture. 



Ipswich (O. C. Smith). — The season is backward because of 

 the cold nights. Some fall seeding winter-killed ; pastures are 

 coming on well ; the hay crop will be an average one. The frost 

 did no damage except to peaches ; pear and apple bloom above 

 the average. Tent caterpillars have hatched out, but are not as 

 numerous as usual. Spraying is quite general and is gradually 

 increasing. Help is rather scarce ; good help most so ; not over 

 one-third is good help. Wages range from $18 to $22 per month 



