14 



and Essex counties had not done quite as much as usual, and 

 there had not been quite as much done on Martha's Vine- 

 yard. On the other hand, Worcester, Middlesex and Nor- 

 folk county returns indicate that slightly more fall seeding 

 was either done or contemplated than usually is undertaken. 

 The condition of the various crops is reported almost uni- 

 versally as excellent, owing to the favorable growing condi- 

 tions which have prevailed during the past month. But four 

 reports from the whole State indicate that the condition is 

 below normal. Prospects at this writing, then, are that fall 

 seeding will have good opportunity to become well established 

 before severe weather, and will be able to winter in good 

 shape. 



Onions. 



In general, it may be said that the onion crop is an average 

 one, or slightly above the average, with prices which range 

 very low. The majority of our correspondents do not report 

 on this crop at all, and numbers report " grown for home use 

 only." Reports from the onion district in Franklin County 

 and from the market-garden sections in the vicinity of the 

 cities indicate a better-than-average crop. One of our oldest 

 correspondents, Mr. Wicks of West Falmouth, makes the fol- 

 lowing interesting statement : " Not many grown here now ; 

 in former years thousands of bushels were grown." 



Potatoes. 

 The latter part of the season has proved very favorable to 

 the development of late potatoes. Our last report indicated 

 a fair to medium crop. The returns for September denote 

 a crop above normal in Essex, Norfolk and Plymouth coun- 

 ties, a normal crop in Barnstable, a 90 per cent crop in 

 Middlesex and Bristol counties, and 70 to 84 per cent of 

 normal in the remaining counties of the State. In general, 

 the quality of the crop is excellent. Weather conditions have 

 not been favorable to the development of blight and rot, and, 

 while a few reports indicate poor quality, the vast majority 

 indicates exceptionally sound potatoes, unusually free from 

 scab. This is prima facie evidence of the employment of the 



