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$25 per month with board, and $1.50 to $2 per day without board. 

 Milk production for local and Worcester market is the leading 

 business of our farmers, and there is no disposition apparent to 

 make any change. 



Sutton (C. P. King). — The season is later than usual and a 

 little too dry. Pastures are in good condition ; mowings need 

 rain ; fall seeding rather light. The fruit bloom was excellent, 

 but it suffered considerably from frost. Tent caterpillars are doing 

 some damage. Planting is progressing fairly well, and a large 

 amount is being done. Farm help is scarce, and about 20 per 

 cent of it good help. Wages average $20 per month with board, 

 and $1.50 per day without board. More corn and less potatoes 

 than usual are being planted. A large amount of forage crops 

 will be planted, farmers tending to raise crops more for the pro- 

 duction of milk than for the market. 



Blackstone (O. F. Fuller). — The season is about an average 

 one. Pastures and mowings are looking fairly well, and fall seed- 

 ing looks good. The fruit bloom is very good compared with 

 former years. Cut worms are doing some damage. Planting is 

 progressing fairly well but is backward. Farm help is scarce. 

 Wages average $20 per month with board, and from $1.25 to $1.50 

 per day without board. Less potatoes will be planted than usual, 

 with acreage of other crops about as usual. 



MIDDLESEX COUNTY. 



Sherborn (N. B. Douglas). — The season is a little late, but 

 otherwise very favorable. Pastures are slow in starting ; mowings 

 and fall seeding promise well. There was a full bloom on all 

 fruits, with very little damage from frost. No insects are very 

 troublesome as yet. More than tlie usual amount of planting has 

 been done to date. Farm help is scarce, and half of it good help. 

 Wages average $22 to $25 per month with board, and $1.50 to 

 $1.75 per day without board. There appears to be about the 

 usual acreage of farm crops. 



Framingham (J. S. Williams). — The season started well, with 

 everything favorable at early seed time, but it has since been ex- 

 ceedingly dry and cold, with frosts on the 2l8t and 22d, and much 

 wind. Pastures, mowings and winter grain looked well, but the 

 drought is affecting grass badly. The bloom of apples and pears 

 was good ; damage to strawberries from frost, and probably to 

 peaches. No trouble from insects as yet. Planting has been 

 pushed with energy, and a large acreage is in. Farm help is 

 scarce, and one-third of that available is good help. Wages aver- 



