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perhaps 5 per cent. A little weedy hay has been cut, and the 

 crop will be very light. There is a slight increase in the acreage 

 of early potatoes, and they promise a fair to good crop. Early 

 market-garden crops are about average as regards yield and price. 

 Quantity of dairy products exceeds the demand, and prices have 

 not advanced. Pasturage is growing better, but has been exceed- 

 ingly poor. Apples promise about one-third of a crop ; pears fair ; 

 strawberries nearly an average crop. 



Methuen (Asa L. Harris). — Canker worms are doing some 

 damage. Corn has suffered from the late frosts, and, although up 

 with the average year, is not doing well. Haying has not begun, 

 and a poor crop is expected. Potatoes grow well, and will be in 

 market early. The market is flooded with early market-garden 

 crops, and prices are low. The price of milk is firm, with a sup- 

 ply to meet the demand. Pastures are in good condition, and will 

 be as long as the rains continue. Strawberries are all the small 

 fruit I see in the market, and are a fine crop. 



Ipswich (O. C. Smith). — Rose bugs and tent caterpillars are 

 doing some damage. Corn is growing well, with about a ten per 

 cent increase in acreage. Hay is being cut, and the crop is below 

 the average, owing to the small amount of rain. There is a full 

 average acreage of early potatoes, and the vines are now in blos- 

 som and promise a good crop. The yield for early market-garden 

 crops is good, and prices somewhat higher than usual ; later crops 

 promise well. Quantity of dairy products about as usual, with 

 prices advanced 10 per cent or more ; prices asked for cows gen- 

 erally higher. Pastures have been rather poor, but the late rains 

 have caused much improvement. Apples, grapes, cherries and 

 berries promise a good crop, except Baldwin apples, which did not 

 bloom full. 



Wenham (N. P. Perkins). — Canker worms, squash bugs, 

 onion maggots and cabbage worms are doing some damage. Not 

 much corn is planted in this vicinity, but what there is is looking 

 well. Haying has just begun, with a poor crop on light land and 

 a good one, though not equal to last year, on well-manured land. 

 The acreage of early potatoes is much the same as usual, and as a 

 rule the crop is looking well. The price of milk is a little better 

 than last year ; cows high and hard to get ; fat cows also bring 

 good prices. Pastures were getting quite short, but the recent 

 rains have improved them somewhat. Strawberries are not a full 

 crop ; other berries looking well. 



Manchester (John Baker). — Striped squash bugs, potato bugs 

 and cut worms are doing some damage. Indian corn looks very 

 well indeed, with about the same acreage as last year. Haying 



