15 



short, and below the average in condition. All fruits and berries 

 promise full average crops. 



Amherst ("Wm. P. Brooks). — Elm-leaf beetles are doing some 

 damage ; potato bugs very few. Corn is very backward, with a 

 moderately increased acreage. Haying has begun to a very slight 

 extent ; new-seeded fields and timothy hay good crop, old fields 

 light. Acreage of early potatoes about as usual, and promise for 

 the crop unusually good. Quantity of dairy products a little short ; 

 price of butter high ; cows of good quality few and dear. Pastur- 

 age is in good condition since the rains. Strawberries are yield- 

 ing well ; blackberries and currants promise well ; peaches good ; 

 apples uneven, but on the whole quite good, Baldwins compara- 

 tively few ; grapes look well ; plums promise a fair crop. 



Hadley (H. C. Russell). — Potato bugs and rose bugs are 

 doing some damage. Indian corn is good, with about an average 

 acreage. Not much haying has been done as yet. Early potatoes 

 promise to be fully up to the average. Yield of market-garden 

 crops fair and prices good. Dairy products are not increased in 

 quantity, but bring higher prices than formerly. Pasturage is in 

 good condition. The prospect is good for apples, pears and 

 peaches ; strawberries were damaged by frost, and are a light crop. 

 All crops are looking well, considering the cool weather, tobacco 

 especially having a good start. 



Northampton (H. C. Comins). — Potato bugs are doing some 

 damage. Corn is very backward, and many fields are small and 

 yellow ; acreage 20 per cent greater than last year. Haying has 

 begun, with the prospect of a light crop on uplands. There is an 

 increased acreage of early potatoes, and they are looking remark- 

 ably well. Most market-garden crops are late, and not yielding 

 as well as usual ; prices better than last yedr. Quantity of dairy 

 products average, and prices higher than usual ; price of cows 

 about the same as last year. Pasturage is in excellent condition. 

 Smairfruits are promising well, except strawberries, which are not 

 more than half a crop. 



Westhampton (H. A. Parsons). — Potato bugs are doing some 

 damage. Corn is in very good condition, but is late. Haying has 

 begun, and the crop is nearly, though not quite, up to the average. 

 The acreage of early potatoes is about the same as usual, ai?d they 

 are looking well. Not many early market-garden products have 

 been harvested as yet, but they are looking well, thougli late. 

 Dairy products bring higher prices than usual. Pastures are in 

 good condition. Strawberries are not half a crop, but the outlook 

 for high-bush blackberries is good. 



Chesterfield (Horatio Bisbek). — Much more Indian corn was 



