10 



Insects. 

 Tent caterpillars appear to be more plentiful than for 

 some years, hut have as yet clone no serious damage, and 

 with a little foresight and work may he easily controlled. 

 Other insects mentioned are current worms, cut worms, 

 potato bugs, elm-leaf beetles, horn flies, white grubs, plant 

 lice, canker worms, asparagus beetles and brown-tail and 

 gypsy moths. There were very few reports of damage by 

 canker worms. 



Spraying. 



There does not appear to be any particular increase in the 

 practice of sprajang, in fact, several correspondents report 

 that it is decreasing rather than increasing. As this is 

 likely to be a good fruit year, those farmers producing a 

 surplus of fruit over that required for home use will do well 

 to spray with both insecticides and fungicides, as the effect 

 will be great on ])oth the quantity and quality of the product. 



Farm Help and Wages. 

 There seems to be a fair supply of good farm help, al- 

 though the supply of strictly first-class help is, of course, 

 less than the demand. Judging from our reports, there is 

 more and more good help to be had each year. The scale of 

 wages seems to be rising, judging from the reports, and $20 

 per month now seems a fair average with board. Without 

 board $35 per month would appear a fair average, although 

 there is little help employed in this way. For day work 

 $1.50 per day is now the sum most often mentioned, while a 

 few years ago it was $1.25. 



Acreage of Farm Crops. 

 Owing to the high prices of grain during the past winter, 

 there will be a considerable increase in the acreage of corn 

 and a lesser one in that of other grains. A slight increase in 

 the acreage of potatoes is also indicated. Other farm crops 

 will about maintain their customary areas. Something will 

 be done in a small way in the Connecticut valley in growing 

 tobacco under cloth, but this is the only strictly new enter- 

 prise noted. 



