No. 4.] MASSACHUSETTS WEATHER. xxxi 



Potatoes appeared to be one of the poorest crops for years. 

 Pastures and mowings were in good shape and fall feed 

 unusually good, resulting in a greatly improved condition 

 of farm stock. Much less than the usual amount of fall seed- 

 ing was done, owing to the drought, and that put in was re- 

 tarded in germination. The fall rains and warm weather 

 pushed fall seeding along tinely, and at the close of the season 

 it was reported to be in good condition. With the excep- 

 tion of apples, prices for which were low on account of the 

 large crop, prices of farm crops ranged rather higher than 

 usual, due probably to the shortage caused in most crops by 

 the drought. Of 149 replies to the question : " How have 

 prices for crops raised for market compared with former 

 years ? " 89 correspondents spoke of prices as average, 54 as 

 higher than usual and 6 as lower than usual. There was the 

 usual difference of opinion as to which crops had been most 

 profitable, as well as wdiich had proved least profitable. It 

 might be said, however, that 54 considered corn to have 

 been among the most profitable crops ; 46, hay or grass ; 

 31, potatoes; 9, sweet corn; 7, apples; 7, tobacco; 5, 

 asparagus ; 5, tomatoes, etc. Seventy correspondents agreed 

 that potatoes should be reckoned among the least profitable 

 crops; 2S, apples; 17, hay or grass ; 8, corn; 7, onions; 

 4, cabbages, etc. 



The season was not one which could be called generally 

 profitable for our farmers. The prolonged drought of sum- 

 mer and early fall cut many crops short to such an extent 

 that the increased prices received failed to make up the 

 shortage. Starting the sunnner with empty barns, the short 

 hay crop and scanty pasturage materially increased the 

 cost of producing dairy ]iroducts. Of 144 correspondents 

 answering the question as to the profits of the season, 43 

 regarded it as profitable, 17 as average, 20 as fairly profitable 

 and 58 that it had not been a profitable one. 



Massachusetts Weather, 1900. 



[Compiled from data furnished Iiy tlie Weather Bureau, Roeton.] 



January was milder than usual, the temperature ranging 

 from 1° to 4° above the normal at all stations of official 

 observation. The month opened with a general snow-storm, 



