24 



culture considered profitable ; drawbacks, insects and lack 

 of flowage. 



Nantucket reports 100 acres ; no increase ; estimated yield, 

 400 to 700 barrels ; average crop ; good quality ; culture 

 not considered profitable, owing to want of flowage and 

 lack of help in harvesting. 



Returns were received from eight towns in Bristol County, 

 but only Berkley and Acushnet report culture, 25 acres ; 

 with no increase ; estimated yield, 150 barrels ; one-half 

 crop ; small, quality good ; culture considered profitable in 

 Acushnet ; not in Berkley, owing to want of flowage. 

 Some native boo-s in Seekonk and Kehoboth. 



Returns were received from eight towns in Essex County. 

 Andover, Manchester and Newbury show a cultivated area 

 of 9| acres, with no increase; estimated yield, 200 barrels; 

 three-fourths crop ; good quality ; culture considered profit- 

 able. Also about 30 acres of natural bogs in Andover and 

 Newbury. Two hundred acres of natural bogs in Georgetown, 

 which promise well this year. They are a source of income, 

 as the only cost is that of gathering. Natural bogs also in 

 Hamilton, Topsfield and Groveland ; j'ield perhaps 100 bar- 

 rels in Topsfield. About 40 acres in Ipswich, no increase ; 

 estimated yield, 75 to 100 barrels; one-fourth crop ; good 

 quality ; crop considered profitable. 



Returns were received from twenty towns in Middlesex 

 County. North Reading reports about 65 acres, no increase ; 

 estimated yield, 500 barrels ; crop a fair average ; quality 

 fair ; crop considered profitable ; drawbacks, frosts and floods. 



Wilmington shows 42 acres, an increase ; estimated yield, 

 3,000 bushels ; good quality ; culture considered profitable ; 

 drawl)acks this year, drought and worms. Hopkinton, 75 

 acres, no increase ; estimated yield, 500 barrels ; yield 

 average ; good quality ; drawback, lack of water. Tewks- 

 bury, 25 acres of natural bogs ; not profitable. Concord, 50 

 acres ; and that water, frosts and insects generally take the 

 crop. Westford, perhaps 25 barrels on old meadows ; Ayer, 

 a few wild ones ; Acton, 20 barrels this year from natural 

 bogs ; average yield ; good quality ; culture not considered 

 profitable. Reading, perhaps 500 barrels of fair quality on 

 some 100 acres of meadow ; yield below average ; control 



