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In the circular to correspondents returnable May 31 the 

 following questions were asked : — 



1. How does the present season compare, agriculturally 

 speaking, with last season ? 



2. What is the condition of live stock in your vicinity? 



3. What is the promise for pastures and mowings, and 

 did fall seeding winter well in your vicinity? 



4. How did the fruit bloom compare with former years ? 



5. What insects appear to be doing the most damage in 

 your neighborhood, and what measures are being taken to 

 prevent their ravages ? 



6. Is farm help scarce or plenty ; and what proportion 

 would you call good help? 



7. What wages, with board and without board, are paid 

 farm help in your vicinity? 



8. Do you think the present industrial depression has 

 increased or decreased the acreage of crops in your vicinity? 



Returns have been received from 127 correspondents, and 

 from them the following summary has been made ; — 



The Season. 

 Correspondents differ materially in their answers under 

 this head. The replies range from " later" and " unfavor- 

 ably" to " two weeks earlier than last year" and " very fa- 

 vorable." The season opened from ten days to two weeks 

 earlier than usual, but the dry weather of April and the first 

 part of May and the cold storms since, and frosts, have left 

 it, the first of June, very nearly an average though some- 

 what in advance of the same date last year. The following 

 extracts will illustrate: Falmouth, Barnstable County. "As 

 to the season, some things are away ahead while others are 

 not. Vegetation started early but we have had it so dry, 

 with very little rain in March, April or May until last week, 

 and very cool nights with frost." Templeton, Worcester 

 County. " The early opening of the season induced farmers 

 to push their crops into the ground, but later cold weather 

 and drought retarded their growth so that now they are but 

 little over the average of former years. The first half of 

 May w^as unusually dry. The last half has been cold with 

 an excess of cloudy, wet weather. The storms are followed 



