30 



' ESSEX COUNTY. 



Merrimac (S. Bixby Sargent). — Elm-leaf beetles are proving 

 injurious. Indian corn is growing fast since the rain; 90 per cent 

 is grown for ensUage. Hay crop is the largest for several years and 

 quality is good. Forage crops grown are fodder corn, German and 

 Japanese millet. Prices of market-garden crops are good. Straw- 

 berries were ruined by the drought. Potatoes are in fair condition. 

 Prospect is that grapes will be plentiful, peaches light, and apples 

 an average. Pastures needed rain badly. Rye, oats and barley not 

 raised for grain; not over half a crop as forage. Five acres of 

 apple orchards were set in 1911; 22 acres were set in 1912. Most 

 dairy farmers use silos, there being four times as many in use as 

 ten years ago. Corn is the only crojD used for silage. 



Haverhill (Milton A. Corliss). — Gypsy moths have been doing 

 some damage in the woods. Corn is a little late but looking well; 

 about 50 per cent is grown for silage. Hay is of good quality and 

 more than a normal crop. Oats, millet, Hungarian and barley are 

 gTown to some extent for forage and are in good condition. The 

 condition of market-garden crops is normal. Early jjotatoes are 

 in good condition. Prices of market-garden crops the same as last 

 year. Apples are looking well; pears are fair; peaches, quinces and 

 l^lums are a failure. Pasturage good on account of recent rains. 

 Rye, oats and barley are not raised for gi-ain. No large apple 

 orchards have been set in 1911 and 1912, but nearly every farmer has 

 set out trees. About 25 per cent of the farmers have silos; there 

 were very few ten years ago. Nothing but corn is used for silage. 

 Many farmers Avho have silos do not fill them. 



Methuen (Frederick A. Russell). — Insects are proving less 

 troublesome than usual. Indian corn is backward and small: a large 

 proportion of it is used for ensilage. There is an average hay crop 

 of good quality. Oats, barlej' and millet are grown for forage and 

 are in very good condition. With the exception of peas, market- 

 garden crops have been about an average in yield and price. Early 

 apples promise well; winter apples fair; all other fruits very light. 

 Pastures have improved very much in the past ten days. Rye, oats 

 and barley, both as grain and forage crops, compare favorably with 

 former years. No new apple orchards of recent planting. Perhaps 

 40 per cent of the dairy farmers use silos, about the same number 

 as ten years ago. Nothing but corn used for ensilage. Corn suf- 

 fered severely up to July 11. Farmers who took advantage of the 

 hot dry weather never secured their hay crop in better condition or 

 at less expense. 



Topsfield (B. P. Pike). — No insects in particular. Indian corn 

 is late but looking well ; 70 per cent is grown for ensilage. The hay 



