12 



Washington (E. H. Eames). — The season is about a normal 

 one, agriculturally speaking. Fall seeding wintered well and past- 

 ures and mowings are doing well ; a good hay crop seems assured 

 by the recent rains. Fruit trees are as yet hardly in blossom. No 

 insects are doing damage at present. Farm help is scarce and not 

 very good. Wages -are from $15 to $20 per month with board and 

 $1.50 per day without board. Not many crops have been planted 

 as yet, with the exception of garden stuff and potatoes. 



Cheshire (L. J. Northup). — The present season is a little 

 backward. Pastures and mowings promise well and fall seeding 

 looks fairly well. The fruit bloom promises well but it is a little 

 early here to report on it. Tent caterpillars are about as plenty 

 as usual. There is not much spring spraying done about here. 

 Good farm help is becoming more scarce every year. Wages are 

 $20 per month with board and $30 to $35 per month without board. 

 I notice no marked changes in the acreage of farm crops. 



Hancock (C. H. Wells). — The season is a little later than the 

 normal. Pastures and meadows look well, but there is some com- 

 plaint that fall seeding did not winter well. Apples, pears and 

 cherries have blossomed quite well ; very few plum blossoms ; no 

 damage from frosts. It is rather early for damage from insects. 

 Very few practise spraying, but I think it is upon the increase. 

 Farm help is good as a rule. Wages are $18 per month with 

 board and from $20 to $25 per month without board. There is no 

 particular change in the acreage of farm crops. 



FRANKLIN COUNTY. 



JRowe (J. F. Brown) . — The season is above the average, agri- 

 culturally speaking. Pastures and mowings wintered well and 

 fall seeding is looking finely. Fruit bloom appears to be first 

 class and has not suffered from frost. Insects are doing no 

 damage as yet. Spraying is practised by a few and is perhaps 

 on the increase. Farm help is scarce and about half of it good 

 help. Wages average $18 per month with board and $1.25 per 

 day without board. There will be no appreciable change in the 

 acreage of farm crops, but I think our farmers are inclined to raise 

 more Durham and less Jersey stock. 



Leyden (U. T. Darling). — The season is nearly two weeks 

 later than usual. Fall seeding looks well and recent rains have 

 greatly improved the pastures and mowings. Fruit bloom is not 

 very far advanced, but so far as I am able to judge the prospect 

 is favorable for a good crop. Insects have done very little damage, 

 owing probably to the cold season. Spraying has been practised 



