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ground in preparation. Farm help is scarce, and mostly poor. Wages 

 average from 122 to $25 per month with board and SI. 50 to $1.75 per 

 day without board. There is about the usual acreage of farm crops. 



Amherst (Wm. P. Brooks). — The season is practically normal, 

 from five to seven days earlier than last 5'ear. Mowings and pastures 

 are especially promising; fall seeding wintered well. The fruit bloom 

 is above the average, except Baldwin apples; no frost injury. No 

 insects are especially prominent. Planting is about at the usual 

 point for the time of year, with considerable corn planted; recent 

 rains have delayed work on low lands. Farm help is plenty, and of 

 fair quality. Wages range from $18 to $25 per month with board 

 and average $1.50 per day without board. ]\Iore potatoes and onions 

 have been planted than usual, because of poor sale of tobacco last 

 year. There is a very large orchard, 30 to 40 acres, being set in South 

 Amherst; apples, interspersed with peaches, i3lums, cherries and 

 some dwarfs. 



Hadley (H. C. Russell). — The season is about an average one. 

 Pastures and mowings are in good condition. The bloom of apples 

 and pears is about normal; not much bloom on peaches. There are 

 no insects doing damage. Planting of corn and potatoes is later than 

 usual. Farm help is more plenty than usual, and half of it is good 

 help. Wages average from $18 to $22 per month with board and 

 $30 to $33 per month without board. There is not much change in 

 the acreage of any of our cultivated crops. 



Easthampton (Wm. C. Clapp). — The season compares favorably 

 with the normal. Pastures and mowings are looking well, and fall 

 seeding wintered well. The fruit bloom was full, with no damage 

 from frosts. Currant worms and cut worms are doing some damage. 

 Rains have hindered planting somewhat, but the acreage of cultivated 

 crops is increased. There is plenty of farm help, and three-quarters 

 of it is good help. Wages average from $20 to $25 per month with 

 board and $1.25 to $1.50 per day without board. The acreage of 

 tobacco will not be any larger than formerly. 



Southampton (C. B. Lyman). — The season has been cold and wet, 

 but is not far from the normal. Pastures come forward slowly, but 

 mowings are very forward and fall, seeding wintered well. There is 

 a good bloom of apples ; p Ars very full ; peaches light ; strawberries 

 very fine; and there has been no injury from frost. There are very 

 few insects doing damage. A good deal of planting remains to be 

 done, owing to the land being wet. Most farmers have help, and 

 about half is good. Wages average from $15 to $20 per month with 

 board and $1.50 per day without board. There will be about the 

 usual acreage of farm crops. 



Chesterfield (Horatio Bisbee). — The season has opened well, 

 t/hough excess of rain has held planting back. Pastures are good; 

 mowings winter-killed to some extent; but little fall seeding done. 

 There has been a full bloom on all fruit trees except Baldwin apples, 



