18 



rather scarce, with half of it good help. Wages range from $20 

 to $25 per month with board, and average $1.50 per day without 

 board. 



North Brookfield (J. H. Lane). — The season is at least two 

 weeks earlier than the normal in foliage, but is too dry for growth. 

 Pastures are drying up, as are mowings to some extent. The 

 apple bloom was light, that of pears heavy. Tent caterpillars are 

 more plentiful than ever before. Farm help is very scarce, and 

 not over 10 per cent of it is good help. Wages range from $20 to 

 $35 per month with board, and from $1.50 to $1.85 per day with- 

 out board. More silage crops than usual will be grown. 



Petersham (S. B. Cook). — The season is not up to the normal, 

 on account of the exceeding drought. Pastures and mowings 

 are parched and dry, and the promise is poor. Tent caterpillars 

 are plenty, and are the chief insect doing damage. Very little 

 spraying done, and it is not on the increase. Farm help is scarce, 

 and one-third of it is good help. Wages average $1.50 per day 

 with board, and $1.75 without board. The acreage of potatoes 

 and corn will be increased. 



Royalston (C. A. Stimson). — The season is hot and dry. Pas- 

 tures and mowings have dried up badly ; fall seeding wintered 

 well. There was a medium fruit bloom, and no damage from frost. 

 Spraying is not practised to any extent. Farm help is scarce, and 

 one-fourth of it is good help. Wages average $1 per day with 

 board and $1.50 per day without board. 



Gardner (A. F. Johnson). — The season is a little earlier than 

 the normal. Pastures and grass look badly, and are much in need 

 of rain. The apple bloom was one-fourth of the normal bloom ; 

 full bloom on wild berries. Spraying is not practised in this 

 locality. Farm help is scarce. Wages average from $20 to $25 

 per month with board, and $1.50 per day without board. 



FUchburg (Jabez Fisher). — The fruit bloom was about eight 

 days earlier than the average for forty-seven years. Fall seeding 

 wintered unusually well. The fruit bloom was fair only, and has 

 suffered but little from frost. Tent caterpillars are doing some 

 damage. There is a slight increase in spraying, but the practice is 

 not general. Farm help is very scarce. Wages average $20 per 

 month with board, and $1 .50 per day without board. The drought 

 is intense for the time of year ; seeds remain unsprouted and grass 

 is drying up. 



Harvard (John S. Preston). — The season is not very favor- 

 able, owing to want of rain. Pastures and mowings are very 

 short; fall seeding wintered well. All fruits made a fair bloom 

 except peaches. Tent caterpillars are very plentiful. Spraying 



