The Season. 

 April Avas about a normal month and May opened accord- 

 ingly, but the weather of May has been so cold and dry 

 that at present vegetation of all kinds is very backward and 

 much in need of rain. It has been an excellent month for 

 farming operations, and planting and sowing are unusually 

 well advanced. The frosts in various sections on the morn- 

 ings from the 19th to the 24th did some damage to early 

 vegetables, but were not severe in any case, so far as re- 

 ported. Rain and warmer weather are greatly needed for 

 the development of all crops. 



Pastures and Mowings. 

 There was a good snow covering on pastures and mow- 

 ings throughout the winter, and, in consequence, grass 

 generally wintered well. The lack of rain has been a draw- 

 back to grass of all kinds, and there is little feed in pastures 

 in most localities, while mowings are also backward. The 

 cold weather has operated to hold grass in check, so that 

 while backward there is a thick bottom growth on all except 

 worn-out mowings, and with seasonable moisture the hay 

 crop should be up to the average. Fall seeding wintered 

 well and shows the effects of lack of rain less plainly than 

 old fields. 



Fruit Bloom. 



There was a fair bloom on apple trees, when it is con- 

 sidered that this is the off year in most sections, while the 

 bloom on pears, peaches, cherries, plums and small fruits is 

 reported to have been unusually heavy. Strawberries are 

 blooming full though late. There was very little injury to 

 fruit trees during the winter, and the reports would indicate 

 that the recent frosts of the lUth to 24th were not heavy 

 enough to do any practical injury to the fruit crop, unless 

 it be to a few trees situated on low-hing land. 



Insects. 

 At the time of making returns few insects had appeared, 

 the cold weather probably having kept them in check, and 

 those noted were doing little damage. Tent caterpillars 



