6 



almost every county in the belt. The large crop of potatoes 

 which was grown last year in almost all districts of produc- 

 tion resulted in low prices and consequent disappointment to 

 growers. From this cause the acreage this 3 ear in New 

 England, in the States of the central west, and in the moun- 

 tain regions, will be considerably reduced, the breadth thus 

 freed being given to corn in the east, and to various other 

 crops in the west. The acreage of tobacco in the Connecti- 

 cut valley, in Pennsylvania, and in Wisconsin, will be very 

 largely increased on account of the materially higher prices 

 which have ruled for domestic product since the exclusion of 

 Sumatra tobacco from our markets by the operation of the 

 present customs law. 



Inskcts. 



The third question asked was, " What insects appear to 

 be doing the most damage in your neighborhood, and what 

 measures are being taken to prevent their ravages ? " Most 

 of the correspondents refer to the presence of the tent cater- 

 pillar, and some state that active measures are taken to at 

 least keep it out of the orchards. Others report that practi- 

 cally no attention is paid to it. Of the methods used in 

 destroying it, hand picking or cleaning seems to be regarded 

 as the most satisfactory in results. A number state that 

 they do not think it as numerous as last year, owing per- 

 haps to a cold, wet May. Last year nearly ever}^ corre- 

 spondent reported the presence of this insect. Several refer 

 to the asparagus beetle, currant worms, cut worms and fire 

 worms. The correspondent in Dighton refers to the appear- 

 ance of a new insect on the strawberry plant. This insect 

 looks like the spindle worm on corn, and bores downward 

 into the crown of the plant, killing the fruit stalk. It is 

 thouirht that insects are troubling the farmers less this season 

 than usual. 



Farm Help and Wages. 

 The fourth question asked was,," Is it difficult to get first- 

 class help, and what wages, excluding board, are paid such 

 per month?" Nearly all the correspondents are agreed that 

 it is very difficult to get first-class farm help. Some go so 

 far as to state that it is impossible to get it. In our Crop 



