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taken up for building purposes in this vicinity. There are not 

 enough pheasants here to do any marked damage. 



Ludlow (Henry M. Bliss). — The season has been cold and 

 backward, with an excess of rain. Pastures and mowing promise 

 a good crop. Fall seeding was more or less winterkilled. The 

 fruit bloom in general was about one-half nonnal. Planting is pro- 

 gressing slowly. Help is scarce, and 70 per cent may be called 

 good help. Wages average $20 to $25 per month with board, and 

 $1.75 to $2 per day without board. There will be no marked change 

 in the acreage of the principal farm crops. Pheasants are causing 

 no damage here. 



Palmer (0. P. Allen). — The season is later than usual, with 

 very little warm weather. Abundance of rain has given grass a 

 good start, and fall seeding is in good condition. The fruit bloom 

 has been very full, with the exception of pears. Very few insects 

 are active as yet. Very little planting has been done. Help is 

 rather scarce, with a large proportion of good help. Wages are 

 about $1S per month with board, or $1.50 per day without board. 

 There will be no marked change in the area planted to the usual 

 farm ci'ops. No damage is reported from pheasants in this town. 



West Springfield (N. T. Smith). — The season is some two weeks 

 late on account of cold, wet weather. Pastures and mowings are 

 unusually promising. What little fall seeding was done wintered 

 well. Apple bloom was about 40 per cent, pears very light, peaches 

 none, cherries and plums full, strawberries coming into bloom. The 

 elm-leaf beetle has begun work; cutworms are doing some damage, 

 but they are not so bad as in 1911. Planting is progressing slowly, 

 although much land has been too wet to handle. Help is very scarce, 

 and a very small per cent of this is competent to do good work 

 alone. Wages range from $20 to $30 per month with board, and 

 $1.50 to $1.75 per day without board. About the usual acreage of 

 corn and potatoes will be planted. There are no pheasants in this 

 town. Quite a large amount of farm land in this town has been 

 bought by real estate boomers, cut up into building lots and sold at 

 auction. 



Souiliwiclc (L. A. Fowler). — The season here is late. Promise 

 for pastures and mowings is good, and fall seeding wintered well. 

 Most fruit trees bloomed well, especially apples. No insects are 

 doing damage at present, although cutworms and angleworms have 

 been very troublesome in the beds. Planting is rather late. There 

 has been sufficient help so far, although the proportion of good 

 help is small. Wages average $20 to $25 per month with board, 

 and $1.50 to $1.75 per day without board. The acreage of corn and 

 potatoes will be larger than usual. Pheasants are doing no damage 

 here to speak of. 



