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and fall seeding wintered well. Veiy heavy fruit bloom. Tent 

 caterpillars are plenty. There is seldom so little planting done at 

 this date. Much of the land is too wet to work. Farm help is 

 scarce; probably three-quarters is reasonably good. Wages with 

 board average $20 to 26, without board $1.75 to $2 per day. There 

 will be no marked change in the acreage of the staple crops. Have 

 heard of no damage by pheasants. 



HAMPSHIRE COUNTY. 



Cummington (W. A. Farwell). — The season is very backward, 

 at least ten days behind the normal. Pastures and mowings look 

 fine, and fall seeding wintered well. The fruit bloom compares 

 favorably with that of former years, and there has been no frost 

 to injure it. Borers seem to be doing most damage. Owing to the 

 wet gTound, planting is progressing very slowly. Help is very 

 scarce, and not more than one-third of it is good help. Wages $25 

 per month with board, and $40 without board. There will be an 

 increase in the acreage of corn and potatoes, the present high 

 price of both being the cause. There has been no damage by pheas- 

 ants hereabouts. 



Middlefield (J. T. Bryan). — The season here is two weeks late, 

 owing to rainy weather. Pastures and mowings are in excellent 

 condition. There has been a full fniit bloom, with no injury from 

 frost. There has been no insect damage as yet. Planting progress- 

 ing very slowly. No corn planted at this writing. Farm help 

 is scarce, and good help hard to get at any price. The average 

 wages seem to be about $25 per month with board, and $1.75 per 

 day without board. More corn than usual will be planted this year. 

 There has been no damage by pheasants. 



Chesterfield (Horatio Bisbee). — The season is very cold and 

 backward, with much rain. Our land is full of water. Grass is 

 looking well in pastures, but all of last year's seeding is not doing 

 well. Mowings very promising. Fruit trees not yet in bloom and 

 insects not yet out. Hardly any planting done as yet. Farm help 

 is very scarce, all being native help ; some large farms have no 

 help. Wages average $20 to $22 per month with board, or $1.50 

 per day for transient help. There will be no marked change in 

 acreage of the principal farm crops. We know of no damage done 

 by pheasants. 



North Hadley (H. C. Russell). — The spring so far has been 

 late and cold. The bloom of apple trees is unusually heavy and in- 

 dications point to a full crop. No frost as yet. Currant worms 

 and tent caterpillars lead the bug procession. Frequent rains have 

 retarded spring work, and planting is late and progressing very 

 slowly. Farm help available in about the usual supply, and wages 



