8 



to 31°, the 15th of the present month was the coldest in the 

 past 28 years at Boston. The month was marked by a 

 prevalence of easterly and northerly winds. These, com- 

 bined with the excess of cloudiness, have served to make the 

 month one of the most unpleasant of the name within many 

 years. At the close of May the tendency was to rising temp- 

 erature and warmer weather. 



In the circular to correspondents, returnable May 22, the 

 following questions were asked : — 



1. How does the present season compare, agriculturally 

 speaking, with a normal season? 



2. What is the promise for pastures and mowings, and 

 did fall seeding winter well ? 



3. How did the fruit bloom compare with the bloom of 

 former years, and has it suffered from late frosts ? 



4. What insects appear to be doing the most damage in 

 your locality ? 



5. To what extent is spraying practised against insects 

 attacking fruit, and is it on the increase in your locality. 



6. Is farm help scarce, or plenty ; and what proportion 

 can be called good help ? 



7. What are the average wages paid farm help in your 

 vicinity with board ? Without board ? 



8. Will there be any marked change in the acreage of 

 the usual farm crops, and do you note an}' new enterprises 

 in the line of agriculture ? 



Returns have been received from 62 correspondents and 

 from them the following summary has been made up : — 



The Season. 



The season opened late and the continued cold weather 

 of the greater part of the month has tended to still further 

 retard vegetation. At the time of making returns the season 

 was apparently ten days behind the normal in most sections. 

 The cold weather of the early part of the month held vege- 

 tation in check and retarded the opening of fruit buds and 

 the germination of seeds, most fortunately, as it proved, in 

 view of the severe frosts of the 10th and 11th. These frosts 



