10 



and providing a reserve supply of moisture for the next 

 Aveek or ten days. 



Fruit Bloom. 

 The apple bloom Avas generally good, many reporting it 

 to be exceptionally heavy, even for the bearing year, and was 

 about normal in time of appearance in most sections. Pears, 

 plums and cherries, however, showed rather a light bloom, 

 and the peach bloom appears to be considerably below the 

 normal in most sections. Small fruits and berries generally 

 l)loomed full, though perhaps a little late. The frosts of the 

 20th and 21st did some damage, particularly on low lands, 

 but it does not appear that the damage was general or severe. 



Insects. 



At the time of making returns few insects had appeared 

 and those noted were doing little damage. Teiit caterpillars 

 were those most frequently mentioned, while cut worms 

 appeared to be more than usually numerous. Other insects 

 reported are currant worms, potato bugs, asparagus beetles, 

 the curculio, black cabbage flies and gypsy and brown-tail 

 moth caterpillars. 



Planting. 



The month of May was unusually free from rain, and 

 there were more than the usual number of days on which 

 farm work could be pushed. Nevertheless at the time of 

 making returns planting appeared to be somewhat behind 

 the normal in most sections, due largely to the late opening 

 of the month and the cold weather, which prevented the 

 soil from drying out and warming up sufficiently for early 

 planting. The dry weather was also unfavorable for the 

 germination of seeds, and the crops put in had not, in many 

 instances, come up as freely and promptly as desired. With 

 the breaking of the drouoht these conditions should be 

 remedied, and all seed put in prior to the 27th should 

 o:erminate readily and make rapid growth. 



Farm Help and Wages. 

 Judffins from the returns, there is an unusual scarcitv of 

 farm help tlie i)resent season. There is much complaint as 



