25 



month with board, and from $35 to $45 per month without board. 

 The crops grown about here are about the same in acreage as 

 usual. 



Wakefield (Charles Talbot) . — The season is about an average 

 one. Pastures and mowings are looking finely, arrd fall seeding 

 wintered well. There was a very heavy bloom on peaches ; pears 

 light ; apples very good ; cherries light ; late frosts hurt peaches. 

 Planting is a little later than usual, but is progressing well. Farm 

 help is scarce, and most of it poor help. Wages range from $16 to 

 $20 per month with board, and $35 to $40 per month without board. 

 There is about the usual acreage of the various farm crops, with 

 perhaps more attention paid to small vegetables. Late frosts have 

 done considerable damage. 



Winchester (Samuel S. Symmes). — The season is much colder 

 than usual, with strong winds, making crops backward. Pastures 

 and mowings are getting very dry ; fall seeding wintered well. 

 No apple bloom ; pears and peaches full ; plums light. Cut 

 worms and gypsy and brown-tail moth caterpillars are doing some 

 damage. Planting is very nearly completed, as we have had much 

 fair weather. Help is scarce, and about half of it good help. 

 Wages range from $25 to $30 per month with board, and from 

 $1.50 to $1.75 per day without board. 



Newton (G. L. Marcy). — The season is colder and at present 

 drier than usual. If we have rain immediately we will get an av- 

 erage hay crop ; pastures are dry ; fall seeding is doing well. 

 The fruit bloom is light, with no damage from frosts. ' Cut worms 

 are doing some damage. Planting is progressing well. Wages 

 range from $20 to $25 per month with board, and from $10 to 

 812 per week without board. There are no marked changes in the 

 acreage of farm crops. 



ESSEX COUNTY. 



Salisbury (Wesley Pettengill). — The season is about nor- 

 mal, but a little later than some seasons. Pastures and mowings 

 are looking well, and fall seeding wintered well. Apples light 

 bloom ; pears and peaches full ; plums fair ; small fruits full ; 

 no frost to do any damage. There are a few tent caterpillars and 

 brown-tail moth caterpillars doing damage. Planting is a little 

 late. Help is scarce, and about one-fourth of it good help. 

 Wages range from $20 to $25 per month, and average $1.50 per 

 day without board. There are no mai'ked changes in the acreage 

 of farm crops. 



Haverhill (Eben Webster). — The season is a little late, but 

 we are having good working weather. Fall seeding is in fair con- 



