THE FORTY-FIFTH ANNUAL EFFORT 



SECRETARY 



BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



To the Senate and Hoicse of Representatives of the Commonwealth of 



Massachusetts. 



Replies received the last of May from 190 crop corre- 

 spondents indicated that the season of 1897 opened from 

 one to two weeks earlier than usual ; but that the cold, 

 wet weather, while having an excellent effect on vegetation, 

 tended to reduce the progress of the season more nearly to 

 the normal. The season seemed to be relatively earlier in 

 the western sections than in those nearer to the coast. All 

 crops were reported well advanced and making a good 

 growth. Not for several years were the early reports in re- 

 gard to pastures and mowings so favorable. Copious rains 

 gave both a good start, and grass was everywhere thick and 

 strong. Fall seeding generally wintered well, and the spring 

 rains aided it in securing a good start. Apples made a re- 

 markably full bloom, considering the heavy crop of last year ; 

 early varieties blooming more fully than did winter ones. 

 Pears, plums, cherries and quinces made a full average 

 bloom. The peach bloom could hardly be called full, al- 

 though still much above the usual bloom for this section. 

 Small fruits and wild berries generally blossomed well. 

 Rather less damage than usual was reported from insects. 

 Tent caterpillars were the most common, but appeared to be 

 doing rather less damage than usual. A new imported in- 

 sect pest, the brown-tail moth, was reported as doing much 

 damage to pear trees in portions of Somerville and Cam- 



