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Shelburne (Geo. E. Taylor, Jr.). — The season is about a 

 week earlier than the normal. Pastures and mowings are very 

 dry at present; grass wintered very well. There was about an 

 average fruit bloom ; peaches injured by frosts. Tent caterpil- 

 lars are doing some damage. Spraying is not largely practised, 

 but it is slowly increasing. Farm help is very scarce, and very 

 little of it is reliable help. Wages average $20 per month or better 

 with board, and from $30 to $40 per month without board. 



Ashfield (Chas. Howes). — The spring opened earlier than 

 usual, but was at first dry and cold, and later dry and hot. Pas- 

 tures and mowings are drying up, and the prospect for the hay 

 crop is poor ; fall seeding wintered well. The fruit bloom was 

 very fine, except on peaches and some varieties of small fruits. 

 Tent caterpillars are doing some damage. Spraying is practised 

 to a limited extent, and is on the increase. Farm help is very 

 scarce, and it is hard to get good help. Wages average $1 per 

 day with board, and $1.50 per day without board. More corn 

 will be planted than usual, and more forage crops raised. 



Whately (Frank Dickinson). — The season is a week earlier 

 than usual, and very dry. Pastures and mowings are badly dried 

 up ; all grass wintered well. Apples gave a good bloom ; other 

 fruits light. Spraying is very little practised. Farm help is scarce, 

 and not more than one in four or five is good help. Wages aver- 

 age $18 to $20 per month with board, and $1.50 per day without 

 board. 



Sunderland (J. M. J. Legate) . — The season is very dry, and all 

 crops are at a standstill. Feed in pastures is very short, and the 

 hay crop will be very light ; fall seeding wintered well, but went 

 the way of the rest. There was about an average fruit bloom ; 

 apples do not seem to have suffered from frost, but plums and 

 peaches were ruined. A few tent caterpillars have appeared. No 

 spraying is done here. There is ho farm help to be hired at the 

 present time. Wages average from $18 to $23 per month with 

 board, and $1.50 per day without board. There has been a heavy 

 increase in the acreage of onions, and a slight increase in that of 

 tobacco. The scarcity of farm help is due to the increase in onion 

 acreage, farmers having let land to the Poles for raising onions, 

 until they have all they can do without working out by the month. 



Northfield (Thos. R. Callendar). — The season is early, but 

 dry. Unless rain comes soon, pastures and mowings will be very 

 poor ; fall seeding wintered well. Fruit generally bloomed well. 

 No insects are doing damage as yet. Very little spraying is done. 

 Farm help is very scarce, but fairly good. Wages range from $18 

 to $25 per month with board, and from $1.50 to $2 per day with- 

 out board. 



