21 



Oakham (Jesse Allen). — The season compares favorably with 

 the normal. Pastures and mowings look well, but greatly need 

 rain ; fall seeding looks well. The fruit bloom is not large, and 

 frosts did much damage on low lands. There are a few tent cater- 

 pillars. Planting is nearly completed. Farm help is rather scarce, 

 and perhaps half of it is good help. Wages average $25 per month 

 with board, and $35 without board. There will be about the usual 

 acreage of farm crops. 



Templeton (Lucien Gove). — The outlook is not very promis- 

 ing. Pastures are quite short and mowings poor ; fall seeding 

 wintered only fairly well. The apple bloom was below average 

 and uneven ; pears good ; plums scarcely any ; small fruits good ; 

 blueberries full ; no peaches. Tent caterpillars are doing some 

 damage, but are not plenty. Planting has progressed fairly well ; 

 seed slow in germinating ; some early vegetables cut down by 

 frost. Farm help is very scarce and unreliable. Wages range 

 from $14 to $30 per month with board, and from $1.50 to $1.75 

 per day without board. There is no material change in the acre- 

 age of farm crops. 



Royalston (C. A. Stimson). — The season is cold and backward. 

 Pastures and mowings are getting dry, but are in fairly good con- 

 dition ; fall seeding did not winter well. There is a full bloom of 

 all fruits except plums, but it has suffered somewhat from frost. 

 No insects are doing damage. Planting is backward. Farm help 

 is scarce, but what can be procured is fair help. Wages average 

 $26 per month with board, and $1.50 per day without board. 

 There is no particular change in the acreage of farm crops. 



Gardner (A. F. Johnson). — May 10 found leaves and blossoms 

 late, but I think that by June 1 they will be up to the average. 

 Pastures and mowings need rain very much. There was a full 

 fruit bloom, but two heavy frosts evidently injured it. No insects 

 have done damage as yet. Planting is progressing slowly. Farm 

 help is in about the usual 8U[)ply, at the usual wages. There are 

 no marked changes in the acreage of farm crops. 



Fitchburg (Dr. Jabez Fisher). — The season is not essentially 

 different from the normal. Pastures and mowings are looking 

 finely, but need rain. No general fruit bloom has surpassed the 

 present for abundance and favorable conditions for many years. 

 There are scai'cely any insects as yet. Planting is progressing 

 fairly well. Farm help is scarce, except the poorest. AVages 

 average $20 per month with board, and $1.50 per day without 

 board. There is nothing new to be noted in the acreage of crops. 

 The season, as indicated by the apple bloom, is two days earlier 

 than the average for fifty years. 



