12 



weather has hindered work. The season is remarkable for sud- 

 den changes of temperature. If we have one warm day, it is 

 usually followed the next by a cool one, and in low lands by 

 frost. Apple trees are blossomed vcr}- full. 



E. W. Boise. 



Brimfield. — In Wales, four miles south, the woollen mills 



which have been idle for some time are starting up under new 



management, which is encouraging. Early potatoes are up and 



look well. There has been so much cold, wet weather, that seed 



has been slow to start when planted, and on wet lands it is not 



dry enough to plant yet, and hardly one-fourth of the planting 



has been done. 



S. ^Y. Browk. 



Tolland. — There is little help hired in this section, from the 

 fact that a good farmer with a good farm well stocked cannot 

 turn off enough from his farm to pay a hired man and support his 

 family and pay his taxes. We have but few foreigners, except 

 families that have been settled *here for years. 



F. T. MooRE. 



West Si^ringjieUl. — Frequent rains retard planting. The common 

 farm crops rarely pay a profit, haj' excepted. Garden truck is 

 the general resort. Onions, celery, parsnips, carrots, tomatoes, 

 cabbage and tobacco are increasing here. The old-style farmers 

 are almost discouraged by taxes. They justly feel that the policy 

 of the government is against them. The speculators and high- 

 tariff men are having the advantage. Grass, rye and oats are 

 luxuriant. All crops are looking well. I have orchard grass 

 three feet high, that will be fit to mow about June 1. Some have 

 hayed rye and planted corn where it grew. Strawberries are in 



full blossom, and promise well. 



J. N. Bagg. 



HAMPSHIRE COUNTY. 



Belcliertown. — A cold, wet May, and prospect good for a large 

 hay crop and a fair fruit crop. Early potatoes are looking 

 remarkably well. The acreage of potatoes planted in this vicinity 

 exceeds by far any two previous years. Rye somewhat winter- 

 killed. 



H. C. West. 



North Hadley. — Ten years ago I sold hay for sixteen to eighteen 

 dollars per ton, now ten to twelve dollars. Corn was ten to fifteen 



