No. 4.] MASSACHUSETTS CROPS. xliii 



provement over the general conditions of early fall. Not 

 only was there an absence of killing frosts, but the weather 

 was dry and warm until the majority of the crop ripened off. 

 In general, the quantity and quality of the crop seemed to be 

 somewhat better in the eastern half of the State. For the 

 State, as a whole, the crop was 90.6 per cent of normal in 

 quantity and 92.8 per cent in quality, divided up by counties 

 as follows (100 represents normal, and for each county the 

 quantity is given first): Berkshire, 82, 74; Franklin, 84, 80; 

 Hampshire, 87, 87; Hampden, 90, 94; Worcester, 87, 89; 

 T'.Iiddlesex, 91, 92; Essex, 93, 92; Norfolk, 96, 94; Bristol, 

 81, 94; Plymouth, 95, 100; Barnstable, 102, 97; Dukes, 100, 

 100. Taken as a whole, the season was not especially good 

 for root crops. In general the crop was about up to the aver- 

 age or slightly below. The excessive wet weather and the 

 drought which followed both did their share in preventing a 

 full germination. Onions were an especially good crop, but 

 prices have been very unsatisfactory. The dry weather of 

 late fall was not conducive to the fullest development of tur- 

 nips and other roots. 



Pastures started in good shape with the abundant rains of 

 the spring. In June the drought began to make itself felt, 

 and in July pastures were generally reported as badly dried 

 up and burned. The rains of late July, however, came to 

 their relief, and after that time feed greatl}' improved, con- 

 tinuing excellent well into the fall. The condition of farm 

 stock is dependent upon feed and care. Care being practically 

 uniform each year the question resolves itself into one of feed 

 alone. This year was no exception, and stock is generally re- 

 ported as from fair to good, although considered a trifle thin, 

 in some cases, o^^^ng to the drought, during which time it was 

 necessary to feed hay and grain. 



The dry weather during the fall was detrimental to fall seed- 

 ing. The rains later in October, however, have helped out 

 greatly. Early seeding was reported in better condition than 

 the later sown fields. Reports seem to show that a somewhat 

 smaller amount of seeding than usual was done during the fall, 

 owing to unsuitable weather conditions. 



In general, prices have ranged about the same as in former 



