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prices have been lower, especially in the ease of onions and po- 

 tatoes. The most profitable crops, in order, have been tobacco, 

 onions and hay. The least profitable crop has been potatoes. This 

 has been a profitable year for farmers. Water supply is still low 

 and vegetation has not recovered from the effects of the drought. 

 A large percentage of the tobacco crop has been sold at good prices 

 — 16 to 21 cents; primed, 22 to 25 cents. No sale of shade-grown 

 tobacco has been reported. A good part of the onion crop has been 

 sold, largely for storage, at 40 to 45 cents per bushel. Prices are 

 now lower with very little buying. Yields of 800 to 1,100 bushels 

 per acre are reported. 



HAMPSHIRE COUNTY. 



Plainfield (C. A. Williams). — Corn is about normal in most 

 fields in quantity; in quality it is about 90 per cent of normal. The 

 cold, wet spring was unfavorable, but the warm weather of July 

 and August and the fact that frosts have held off have given the 

 crop a chance to ripen off in good shape. Root crops are about an 

 average, although some did not germinate very well, owing to the 

 heavy rains of the late spring. Farm stock, as a rule, is in very 

 good condition. Fall seeding is in very good condition, and with 

 favorable conditions will winter well. The price of potatoes is a 

 little below last year, other crops about the same. The most prof- 

 itable crops, in order, have been hay, potatoes, ensilage corn, corn 

 to husk and apples. The least profitable crops, in order, have been 

 cranberries, cabbage, jDeaehes, late fields of miUet and barley. As 

 a whole, the season has been a fairly profitable one for the farmers 

 of this section, although the wet and cold spring and the drought 

 later were drawbacks. Vegetation has recovered somewhat from 

 the drought, but springs and wells have not and are now quite low. 

 The frost held off so that crops had a chance to ripen in very good 

 shape compared to what they would have been if we had had an 

 early frost, as crops were very late. The rain on October 23 will 

 help to fill the springs and wells and will insure a better water 

 supply through the winter. 



Cummington (W. A. Harlow). — It has been very dry since early 

 spring for the corn crop. Root crops are not raised here to any 

 great extent, but are about an average in condition. Farm stock 

 is in good condition. Fall seeding is in very good shape. Vory 

 few crops are raised for market, with the exception of apples and 

 potatoes, which sell for about one-third of former prices. The most 

 profitable crops, in order, have been hay, corn, potatoes and apples. 

 Considered as a whole, the season has been favorable to the dairy 

 industry, which is our main dependence. Vegetation, streams. 



