No. 4.] MASSACHUSETTS CROPS. xxix 



Summary of Crop Conditions, 1900. 



The season opened late, and the cold weather of May 

 tended to still further retard vegetation. The frosts of the 

 10th and 11th of May did much damage to early vegetables 

 and some damage to fruit. Pastures and mowings were 

 generally in excellent condition. Fall seeding did not winter 

 as well as usual, owing to the lack of snow-covering during 

 the winter. The fruit bloom was the heaviest in years. The 

 severe frosts of the 10th and 11th injured peaches and straw- 

 berries severely, plums and cherries to a lesser degree, and 

 apples practically not at all. Insects did very little damage ; 

 spraying increasing, but not rapidly. There was a fair 

 supply of good farm help. Wages averaged about $18 per 

 month with board and about $1.25 per day without board. 

 There was even less change than usual in the acreage of farm 

 crops. 



In June there was very little injury from insects. Cool 

 weather held corn back, but it was otherwise in good con- 

 dition. Haying was not generally begun, and the crop did 

 not promise to be up to the average. Early potatoes showed 

 a sli<2fht increase in acreage in eastern sections, and there was 

 prospect of a good crop. Early market-garden crops, with 

 the exception of asparagus, were about average as to yield 

 and price. The supply of dairy products was about normal, 

 with prices slightly increased. Pasturage was in good con- 

 dition, though likely soon to need rain. Strawberries were 

 far from a good crop, Imt the prices ruled high. Apples 

 promised a good crop ; peaches a light crop ; pears fair and 

 plums generally a light crop ; cherries were a very poor 

 crop, having suttered ])adly from frost. 



No noticeable damage from insects was reported in July. 

 Indian corn was generally in good condition, though per- 

 haps a little late. Haying was completed, with from two- 



