No. 4.] MASSACHUSETTS CROPS. xxxix 



Summary of Crop Conditions, 1912. 



The month of May opened with several days of seasonable 

 temperature which was followed by a short cool spell, and the 

 rest of the mon.th was about the average, the mean tempera- 

 ture being slightly higher than the average for the month. 

 The rainfall was fairly well distributed through the month 

 with amounts ranging from average up to two inches above. 

 Generally speaking, the weather was not very favorable for 

 planting operations, and at the close of the month the season 

 was from ten days to two weeks late. The excess of rain filled 

 the ground with water to such an extent that it was impossible 

 to plow much of the land. This rain, on the other hand, was 

 exceedingly beneficial to mowings and pastures, and following 

 the severe drought of the two preceding seasons greatly bene- 

 fited the dried-up sward. Fall seeding wintered fairly well, 

 although the winter was a very se\'ere one. The fruit bloom 

 was reported, generally, about normal, although somewhat late, 

 with the exception of peaches, which were badly w^inter-killed. 

 There was very little frost injury. The cold wet weather was 

 an excellent check to the activity of insect pests, and very 

 little damage was reported for the month of May, most of this 

 being done by the tent caterpillar. Planting was very much 

 behind, owing to the backward season and scarcity of help, 

 and great fear was felt that if seed was put in the ground 

 it would rot before germinating. On high ordinarily dry 

 land germination was excellent. Farm help appeared to be 

 very scarce, and the percentage of good help small; the aver- 

 age pay with board was estimated to be from $25 to $30 per 

 month. Replies to the query as to pheasant damage gave 

 striking evidence of the danger of allowing this bird to become 

 too plentiful, as in sections where this has happened great 

 damage to crops has resulted. 



