30 



is sold mostly to local routes and the supply is good. Pasturage is 

 excellent; plenty of wet weather has made good feed. The outlook 

 for strawberries is good; less than 50 per cent of a normal crop 

 of apples promised. Slight damage from frosts, but cold nights 

 have checked gi-owth. Nothing appears to show up well but gras^. 



Merrimac (S. Bixby Sargknt). — Bi-own-tail moths are proving 

 most injurious. There is about the usual acreage of Indian corn ; 

 that planted early has grown slowly, and the late planted has not 

 come up well. Some hay has been cut; a good crop, but not what 

 it promised earlier. Not much change in the acreage of early pota- 

 toes; the crop jDromises well. There is not much surplus milk and no 

 change in price. Pasturage has been good, but is getting short now. 

 About the 10th there were tlu'ee frosts in low places, which killed 

 beans and tomatoes. 



Haverhill (Milton A. Corliss). — Gypsj^ and brown-tail moths 

 are doing considerable damage. Indian com is backward on account 

 of cool weather; acreage is normal. Haying has begun a little, and 

 the crop is a little more than normal. Decrease in acreage of pota- 

 toes; crop looks well in spite of dry weather. Market-garden crops 

 look well and prices are high. Quantity and price ($0.38 per can) 

 of milk same as last year. Cows are high and scarce. Pasturage is 

 in good condition. Strawben-ies and blackben-ies are doing well. 

 Frosts damaged beans to some extent on low ground. 



Methuen (Frederick A. Russell). — Tent caterpillars and gypsy 

 moths are iDroving injurious. Very little Indian corn raised, sweet 

 com and ensilage corn being the principal kinds. No haying has yet 

 been done ; promise for the crop is less favorable than in May. Acre- 

 age of early potatoes is about as usual; the crop is looking well. 

 Market-garden crops compare favorably in yield and price with those 

 of former years. The quantity and price of dairy products are about 

 the same as in the past few years. The advance in price of beef 

 has somewhat advanced the price of dairy cows. Pastures are in 

 fair condition, but need rain. Strawberries look well; early apples 

 promise a good yield; other fruits will be a light crop. Irrigation 

 is practiced somewhat among market gardeners; pipe and hose sys- 

 tem is generally used; the Skinner system is also used. No serious 

 damage from frost. 



Rowley (D. H. O'Brien). — Gypsy and brown-tail moths, potato 

 bugs, cutworms and flea beetles are doing damage. Tent caterpillars 

 stripped many trees soon after the leaves started and before spray- 

 ing had been done. Indian coi-n is looking poorly; the acreage is a 

 little above the average. Haying has begun, with less than a normal 

 crop. The acreage of early potatoes is less, with prospect poor. 

 Yield of market-garden crops poor; price high and prospect for 

 those not yet harvested rather poor. Quantity of dairy products 

 scarce; butter is high; milk at wholesale cheaper than it should be. 



