11 



Crops of the Year. 



The general opinion of correspondents the first of June 

 was that the season was cold and backward, but that it 

 promised to be a favorable one for the farmer. The winter 

 was quite favorable for stock. April was dry and cool. 

 May was wet, and planting was delayed. Most corre- 

 spondents referred to the presence of the tent caterpillar. 

 The correspondent in Dighton reported a new insect on the 

 strawberry plant. Nearly all correspondents were agreed 

 that it was very difficult to get first-class farm help. Judg- 

 ing by the returns, it was thought that twenty-two dollars per 

 month and board was the average of wages paid for such help. 



The first of July corn was reported as backward, but of 

 good color and growing well, with acreage increased. 

 Sweet corn was reported as rotting badly in Nantucket. 

 Haying had been delayed by wet, cloudy weather since June 

 22, and considerable cut grass was damaged. It was thought 

 that the crop as a whole would be an unusually large one. 

 A correspondent in Franklin County reported old mowings 

 as badly winter killed. Considerable complaint was made 

 in Worcester County of damage by spittle insects. The 

 acreage of early potatoes was reported as about the same as 

 last year, with condition generally good. There appeared 

 to be little change in the quantity of dairy products, as com- 

 pared with previous years. Pastures were reported as being 

 in good condition. There was very general complaint of 

 raspberry canes having been winter-killed. Generally, the 

 strawberry crop was a good one. Other small fruits, ex- 

 cepting cherries and pears, promised well. 



August 1 , about an average hay crop, of excellent quality 

 as a rule, was reported as secured. The weather for secur- 

 ing the crop was very favorable. Yield of early potatoes, 

 where dug, reported as light. Average price per bushel 

 received was one dollar, the range being from sixty cents to 

 two dollars. Dry weather had greatly injured late potatoes, 

 especially on high lands. Quite general complaint was made 

 of apples dropping from the trees. The bloom was good, 

 and many apples set. Up to the middle of July pastures 

 were in excellent condition, but drought greatly injured 



