21 



pillars are doiug some damage. Farm help is somewhat scarce, 

 and but a very small proportion can be called good liel[). Wages 

 average about S20 per month with board. IMore field corn has 

 been planted than usual. 



MIDDLESEX COUNTY. 



Hopkinton (W. V. Thompson). — The season is a little earlier 

 than last year. Pastures and mowings are in gooil condition, and 

 fall seeding wintered well. Apples and peaches made a full 

 bloom; pears none. Tent caterpillars are doing some damage. 

 Very few spray. Farm help is scarce and poor; most of our help 

 is hired by the day and hour. There are no marked changes in 

 the acreage of the usual farm crops. 



Sudbury (E. W. Goodnow). — Agriculturally speaking, the 

 present season is above the average. Pastures and mowings look 

 well, and fair seeding is doing fairly well. The fruit bloom is 

 above the average, and has not suffered from late frosts. Cater- 

 pillars are the only insects that have done much damage as yet. 

 Spraying is practised but very little, and seems to be decreasing 

 rather than increasing. Farm help is very scarce, and the greater 

 part of it is very poor. Wages average from ?20 to S2o per 

 month with board, and from $35 to $40 without board. There 

 will be no marked changes in the acreage of the usual farm crops. 



Stoiv (G. W. Bkadlet). — The season is about two weeks later 

 than last year. Rain is needed to bring the grass along ; some 

 fall seeding was partly winter-killed. There was about an aver- 

 age fruit bloom, but peaches and plums were injured by frosts. 

 Tent caterpillars have appeared, and some brown-tail moths are 

 reported in a few places. But very few spray, and the practice is 

 decreasing, if anything. Farm help is scarce, and about one- 

 fourth of it is good help. Wages range from Si 2 to S20 per month 

 with board, and from 81.^)0 to S2 per day without board. ]More 

 corn will be planted this year than usual, on account of more silos 

 being built. 



Townsend (G. A. Wildkk). — The season is about a normal 

 one. Pastures and mowings promise well, and fall seeding win- 

 tered well. The fruit bloom is light on late apples, small fruits 

 about average, peaches good; some injury from frosts. Tent 

 caterpillars are doing some damage. Very little spraying is done. 

 Farm help is scarce, and about half of it is good help. Wages 

 average from S15 to 820 per month with board, and from SI.2."> to 

 $1.50 per day without board. There are no marked elKUiges in 

 the acreage of the usual farm crops. 



