11 



Insects. 



As usual at this early season of the year, there is very little 

 damage reported from insects. Tent caterpillars are the in- 

 sect most commonly reported as present, but cannot be said 

 to be numerous, as only 43 correspondents report them. Other 

 insects mentioned are gypsy and brown-tail moth caterpillars, 

 currant worms, cut worms, elm leaf beetles, black flies, squash 

 bugs, asparagus beetles, canker worms, potato beetles and the 

 San Jose scale. Doubtless there will be the usual reports of 

 injury later in the season. Several correspondents report 

 that the gypsy moth appears to be gaining ground. 



PlAjSTTIISTG. 



Planting progressed slowly, owing to the cold weather and 

 rains of the early j)art of the month, but with the coming of 

 warm weather the work was rushed, and was at its height at 

 the time of making returns. Potatoes were generally planted 

 at that time, and corn planting was begun. Onions were up 

 in good shape, and tobacco setting had begun. Probably 

 planting was practically completed by the close of the month 

 in all sections. 



Faem Help A^'D Wages. 

 Farm help was considerably easier to secure than for sev- 

 eral years past, owing to the shutting down of various mills 

 and factories. Most of the additional supply was inexperi- 

 enced, but even inexperienced help was very difficult to secure 

 in former years. There seems to be the usual supply of good 

 help, with the proportion to that classed as poor help rela- 

 tively small. Wages are not quite as high as in former years ; 

 $20 per month with board seems to be a fair average, and $30 

 per month without board, but with tenement, milk and fuel. 

 Helj) hired under other conditions is almost all hired by the 

 week or the day. The minimum wage for day labor is ap- 

 parently $1.50 per day, with higher wages j^aid in many in- 

 stances. There seems to be less difficulty in securing day help 

 than for several years past. 



