16 



Small Gkains. 

 Rje, oats and barley, both as grain and forage crops, have 

 been seriously alTected by the drought, and where not a total 

 failure have yielded poorly. Rye, as a grain crop, where 

 grovni on low land is reported as good. In many cases 

 farmers report that it was necessary to cut these crops for 

 hay, especially on light land. Barley is not grown as much 

 as either oats or rye. 



Orchakd Planting. 

 While most towns report some new apple orchards set, the 

 acreage is not especially large. Seventy-five acres planted 

 in Lakeville, Plymouth County, is the largest amount re- 

 ported for any one town, while other towns vary from scat- 

 tered settings up to 25 acres. The reports also indicate that 

 old orchards are receiving better care, and the fact that the 

 San Jose scale was barely mentioned as one of the leading 

 insect pests substantiates this statement. 



Silos and Silage. 



The returns in regard to this subject disclose some very 

 surprising facts. It appears that less than one-half of the 

 dairy farmers of the State make use of the silo ; that its use 

 is much more general among more successful farmers; and 

 that corn is at present practically the only crop used as en- 

 silage. Attention is called to the fact that in some localities 

 farmers are going out of the dairy business owing to high 

 prices of grain and hay and cows, and owing to the fact that 

 a living price cannot be secured for dairy products. Many 

 farmers do not have silos, also, because they cannot under 

 present conditions see their way clear to make the necessary 

 outlay. As compared with ten years ago the number of silos 

 does not, in general, show any marked change. This would 

 indicate a decline in the interest taken in dairying, or a stag- 

 nation of thought and action along this line by dairy farmers, 

 due to high cost of production and low returns for products. 



While corn is practically the only crop used for ensilage, 

 millet and a few similar crops are occasionally used to " fill 

 out." 



