9 



did much harm to early vegetables and field crops, and in 

 a lesser degree to the fruit crop. Farm work is somewhat 

 behind for the time of year, though well in hand consider- 

 ing the lateness of the season. 



Pastures -and Mowings. 

 Pastures. and mowings are generally in excellent condi- 

 tion, and the rains of the 18th and 19th did much to insure 

 a good hay crop. There are a few complaints of mowings 

 winter-killing, but they are decidedly exceptional. Fall 

 seeding did not winter as well as usual, owing to the lack of 

 snow-covering during the past season. Over a third of the 

 correspondents, an unusual proportion, report it to be in 

 cither "poor" or "fair'' condition, or that it has winter- 

 killed. 



Fruit Bloom. 



The fruit bloom was the heaviest in years in all sections 

 and for all kinds of fruit. The severe frosts of the 10th and 

 11th did some damage, but not nearly as much as was 

 feared at the time. Peaches suffered most severely, but the 

 crop was not entirely ruined. Cherries and plums suffered 

 considerably, especially in eastern sections, where they were 

 furthest advanced, but the crop of these fruits still promises 

 to be a fair one, though somewhat impaired. Apples were 

 not far enough advanced to suffer injury save in very excep- 

 tional- circumstances and a good set seems assured. Straw- 

 berries suffered considerably in eastern sections, but other 

 small fruits appear to have escaped. The time of the fruit 

 bloom was probably several days later than the normal, as 

 was also the setting of fruit, 



Insects. 

 Insects are doing very little damage as yet, the cold 

 weather having probably held them in check. Many cor- 

 respondents reported that no insects had appeared at the 

 time of making returns. The tent caterpillar is the only 

 one at all generally reported and they have done no appre- 

 ciable damage thus far. Other insects spoken of as doing 



