20 



WORCESTER COUNTY. 



Dudley (J. J. Gilles). — The season is, generally speaking, a 

 normal one. The promise for pastures and mowings is very favorable. 

 Large fruits bloomed full; small fruits suffered from frosts, in some 

 cases severely. No insects are doing damage as yet. Planting is pro- 

 gressing fairly well. There is the usual supply of good and experienced 

 help, and inexperienced help is plenty enough. Wages average $20 

 per month with board and from $1.50 to $1.75 per day without board. 

 There will be no marked changes in the acreage of the usual farm 

 crops. 



West Brookfield (]\Iyron A. Richardson). — The season is earlier 

 than for several years. Pastures and mowings are looking finely, 

 and fall seeding wintered well. Apple bloom not quite as full as two 

 years ago; other fruits about normal. No inseets are doing damage 

 at present. Potatoes are nearly all planted, and considerable corn. 

 Farm help is more plenty than last year, with 25 per cent of it good 

 help. Wages range from $22 to $28 per month with board and $35 to 

 $45 per month without board. There are more potatoes planted this 

 year than last, and a good deal of small fruit set out. 



North Brookfield (John H. Lane). — Vegetation is very forward 

 this season. Pastures are in poor condition, but mowings look finely. 

 Bloom of apples and pears full, peaches and plums light. There are 

 very few insects doing damage. Planting is very backward, owing 

 to cold weather. Farm help is more plenty than usual, and more of 

 it good help. Wages range from $15 to $20 per month with board 

 and $1.50 to $1.75 per day without board. Less corn than usual 

 has been planted, owing to cold weather. 



Oakham (Jesse Allen). — The season compares favorably with the 

 normal. Pastures and mowings look well, and fall seeding cantered 

 well. There is ciuite a full fruit bloom, with no damage from frost. 

 There are a few tent caterpillars doing damage. Planting is nearly 

 completed. Farm help is plenty, and half of it good help. Wages 

 average from $20 to $25 per month with board and $30 to $40 per 

 month without board. There will be no marked change in the acreage 

 of the usual farm crops. 



Petersham (B. W. Spooner). — The season is a promising one 

 agriculturally. Pastures and mowings look well, and fall seeding 

 fair. All fruits blossomed full and look finely, with no damage from 

 frosts. No insects have appeared as yet. Potatoes are all planted, 

 and corn planting is going on. Help is more plenty than last year, 

 and about half of it good help. Wages average $20 per month with 

 board and $1.50 per day without board. There is not much change 

 in the acreage of farm crops. 



Templeton (Lucien Gove). — The season promises better than for 

 the last two or three years. Pastures and mowings are in good con- 

 dition, and fall seeding wintered fairly well. Apples, pears and i^lums 



