X BOARD OF AGRICULTURP:. [Pub. Doc. 



said that there appeared to ])e a general improvement in 

 prices paid for farm crops over those of recent years. 



As to the profit from farm crops during the year 1897, it 

 may be said that the returns of correspondents November 1 

 showed a great diversity of opinion. One hundred and 

 three of the 162 correspondents making reply considered 

 hay to have been among the most profitable crops ; 22, corn ; 

 17, potatoes ; 13, sweet corn ; 9, onions ; 8, tobacco ; 7, cab- 

 bage ; 6, winter squash ; 5 each of milk, asparagus and straw- 

 berries ; 4 each of oats, apples, tomatoes and forage crops ; 

 3 each of small fruits, early potatoes and cranberries, etc. 

 One hundred and eight of the 162 correspondents gave pota- 

 toes as among the least profitable crops ; 28, corn ; 23, apples ; 

 8, cabbage ; 7 each of squash and peas ; 4, tomatoes ; 3, oats, 

 etc. In conclusion, it is thought that, for the State as a 

 whole, farmers probal^ly no more than held their own during 

 the season of 1897. 



Massachusetts Weather, 1897. 



[Compiled from data furnished by the Weather Bureau, Boston.] 



January averaged warmer than usual, except along the 

 south-eastern coast, where slight deficiencies in temperature 

 occurred. A warm spell prevailed from the 3d to 5th in- 

 clusive, with the maxima rano^ino- in the fifties. Winter 

 temperatures were then the rule until the middle of the 

 month. A most pronounced cold wave set in on the 19th. 

 This produced remarkable temperature falls, averaging 40° 

 to 60°. By the 21st the weather was again moderate, and so 

 continued. The storm of the 5th gave general heavy rains ; 

 that of the 17th and 18th was also mostly rain. The storm 

 of the 20th and 21st began as snow, but changed to rain. 

 There was little snow during the month until the great 

 storm of the 28th. This was a typical coast storm. From 

 12 to 18 inches of snow fell, and the month closed with a 

 large body on the ground. 



February was an agreeable change from the severe weather 

 conditions which generally characterize the month. Heavy 

 storms were not numerous. There were only two pro- 

 nounced cold waves. Zero weather was almost steady 



