20 



ward. There has been no frost to do damage to fruit. There 

 is a partial fruit bloom, differing in degree in different localities. 

 Spraj'ing is very little practised hereabouts. Farm help is scarce, 

 and but a small proportion of it is good help. The acreage of 

 farm crops is about the same as asual. 



MIDDLESEX COUNTY. 



Hopkinton (W. V. Thompson). — The season has been dry and 

 cold. Pastures and mowings are greatly in need of rain; fall 

 seeding looks well. There has been a full fruit bloom, with 

 no damage from frosts. There are no insects doing damage. 

 Spraying is not practised in this locality. There is very little farm 

 help hired here. Wages average from $18 to $20 per month with 

 board, and $1.50 per day without board. There are no marked 

 changes in the acreage of the usual farm crops. 



Frammgham (J. S. Williams). — The season has been verj- dry 

 and cold, and compares unfavorably with the normal. Pastures 

 are dry and brown ; fall seeding wintered finely, but we need rain 

 badly. There has been a very full bloom of all kinds of fruit, 

 with no damage from frosts. There is some spraying done in this 

 locality. Farm help is not plenty, and about one-fourth of it can 

 be classed as good help. Wages average $22 per month wnth board, 

 and $35 without board. There will be about the usual acreage of 

 farm crops. 



Stow (Geo. W. Bradley). — The season is an average one in 

 most respects. Pastures are backward ; mowings and fall seeding 

 look well. There is a very good fruit bloom in most orchards and 

 no damage from frost. There is not as much spraying done 

 here as formerly. Help is scarce, and there is very little good 

 help. Wages range from $10 to $25 per month with board, and 

 from $1.50 to $2 per day without board. There is no great change 

 in the acreage of farm crops ; quite a good deal of asparagus is 

 being set. 



Dunstable (A. J. Gilson). — The crops and the season are at 

 least two weeks later than the normal. Pastures and mowings are 

 very backward, and need rain and warmer weather. As a whole, 

 there has been about a normal bloom of all fruits ; severe frost on 

 the 22d, but it is uncertain as to how much damage it did. There 

 is no spraying done hereabouts. Wages range from $1 to $1.25 

 per day with board, and $1.50 per day without board. 



Chelmsford (P. P. Perham). — The season is much more back- 

 ward than the normal. Pastures and mowings promise well, and 

 fall seeding wintered well. Good bloom of winter apples, fall 

 varieties not as good ; small fruits promise well ; no damage from 



