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against insects attacking fruit is on the increase every year. Farm 

 help is scarce, and good help very much so. Wages average from 

 $20 to $25 per month with board, and $1.70 per day without board. 

 More attention is given to silo crops every year. • 



Sterling (H. S. Sawyer). — The season is more forward than 

 usual. Pastures and mowings are suffering for rain ; fall seeding 

 wintered poorly. There was a very full bloom of apples and 

 pears ; peach and plum bloom much injured by frosts. Tent 

 caterpillars are doing some damage. Spraying is but little prac- 

 tised, and is not increasing. Good farm help is very scarce. 

 Wages average $18 per month with board, and $1.50 per day 

 without board. There will be a larger acreage of forage crops 

 than usual. 



Worcester (S. A. Burgess). — The present season compares 

 very favorably with a normal one. The promise for pastures and 

 mowings is good, if we have rain; fall seeding wintered well. 

 The fruit bloom was superior, and there has been no damage 

 from frost. Tent caterpillars are doing some damage. Spraying 

 is practised to some extent, and is increasing. Farm help is 

 scarce, and about half that available is good help. Wages aver- 

 age $23 per month with board, and $1.50 per day without board. 

 There will be no changes in the acreage of the usual farm crops. 



Millbury (Herbert McCracken). — The season opened early, 

 and has been exceptionally favorable for farm work. Fall seed- 

 ing wintered well, but rain is needed for pastures and mowings. 

 There was an average fruit bloom, with some damage from frost. 

 Caterpillars are doing some damage. No spraying is done here. 

 Farm help is scarce, and not over 25 per cent of it good help. 

 Wages average $25 per month with board, and $1.75 per day 

 without board. 



Hopedale (Delano Patrick). — Vegetation started somewhat 

 earlier than usual this season. The uncommon drought must 

 cause poor pasturage and a light hay crop ; fall seeding wintered 

 well. There was an average fruit bloom, 'but peaches were badly 

 damaged by frost. Tent caterpillars are in full supply. Spray- 

 ing has never been much practised against insects attacking fruits. 

 Farm help is scarce, and but a small part of it good help. Wages 

 average $1.50 to $1.75 per month without board. There will per- 

 haps be a slight reduction in the acreage of the ordinary farm 



crops. 



MIDDLESEX COUNTY. 



Hopkinton (W. V. Thompson). — The season is earlier and 

 dryer than usual. Pastures and mowings are very dry ; fall seed- 

 ingiwintered well. Apples made a full bloom for the odd year ; 



