20 



HAMPDEN COUNTY. 



Holyoke (John C. Thorpe). — The moist weather of late has 

 brought grass forward, and it looks well. All fruit trees have blos- 

 somed well. The area of corn has increased, and that of potatoes 

 is about the same as usual. 



Westfield (C. F. Fowler). — Crops are not so far advanced as 

 last year. The season promises to be a favorable one. First-class 

 help is very scarce, at $00 to $45 per month. Tiie weather fore- 

 casts in the daily papers are closely scanned and highly prized. 

 The receiving of the weather forecasts and frost warnings in 

 advance would greatly Ijenefit the farmers, and they would soon 

 become a necessity. 



Blandford (E. W. Boise) . — The farmers consider the forecasts 

 in the daily papers as very valuable if they could be received 

 before noon. If the bulletins could be posted in the post-office it 

 would aid all. The scant supply of hay, and cold, backward 

 spring, has caused many to turn stock out on nearly bare pastures. 

 Planting is very late, on account of wet soil. Oxen have sold 

 fairly well the past spring, but there has been no sale for cows. 

 The acreage of crops will be greater than usual this spring. 



A^/aivam (R. DeWitt). — Large numbers of tent caterpillars, 

 the advance guard of the potato beetle, and some cut worms, have 

 appeared. Farmers are careless about the worms' nests, leaving 

 them until the trees are about eaten up. Corn is coming up well. 

 It might lie a help to receive the weather forecasts twelve hours in 

 advance, but the farther off the less reliable. 



Wilhraham (H. M. Bliss). — The season is about ten days later 

 than last year. Should the rains continue, grass and grain crops 

 will be good. Farmers are a week behind in their planting. 

 More corn is being planted than usual, and less potatoes. 



Brimfield (S. W. Brown). — The season is backward. Not 

 one-half the corn planted yet. Ground very wet. Prospect of a 

 good grass crop. Apple trees blossomed quite full. No insects 

 but the tent caterpillars, which as a rule we look after closely. 

 All our farmers look for the daily weather forecasts, and depend 

 on them. Difficult to get first-class help ; wages $20 and upward. 



WORCESTER COUNTY. 



Southbridge (Geo. L. Clemence). — Season from ten to fifteen 

 days later than last year. The tent caterpillar is doing the most 

 damage of any insect, but I think they are not as numerous as 

 usual. First-class help difficult to obtain ; some farmers who do 

 not board their help pay $40 per month. We have had weather- 



