8 



injury from the frost, although there was no great damage 

 to crops or gardens. The cool weather, however, retarded 

 vegetable growth and the germination of planted seeds. 



While there Avas much cloudiness and unsettled weather 

 through the month, there was a general and marked defi- 

 ciency in the rainfall. From the 12th to the 19th local show- 

 ers and scattered thunderstorms were cjuite prevalent, but 

 the rainfall in most instances was light. The rainfall of 

 the month was but little over half of the customary or nor- 

 mal amount for May. The weather was also marked by 

 rather a high wind movement, and in some localities the 

 high winds did considerable damage to newly set tobacco 

 plants, and the general drying effect, with the droughty 

 conditions, was unfavorable to crop interests. At the close 

 of the month the season was estimated at from ten days to 

 a fortnight late. 



In the circular to correspondents, returnable May 24, the 

 following questions were asked : — 



1 . How does the 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 bloom of apples, pears, peaches, plums 

 and small fruits compare with the bloom of former years, 

 and has it suffered from frosts? 



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

 your locality ? 



5. To what extent is spraying practised against insects 

 attacking fruits, 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 any new enterprises in 

 the line of agriculture ? 



Returns were received from 155 correspondents, and 

 from them the following summary has been compiled : — 



