No. 4.] MASSACHUSETTS CROPS. xxix 



a little backward, but making luxuriant growth. Haying 

 was not completed, but the crop was considerably above the 

 average. The acreage of forage crops was not increased, 

 and all were in excellent condition. Market garden-crops 

 were yielding well, with prices a little above normal. Pota- 

 toes promised well, though few had been dug. Apples prom- 

 ised only a light crop ; pears and plums light ; peaches fair 

 in most sections ; quinces good ; grapes and cranberries 

 promised well. Pastures were green and growing, with 

 abundant feed. Oats rusted badly ; rye good ; barley grown 

 only for forage. 



Indian corn came forward rapidly during August, and 

 promised a very fine crop. Sweet corn is extensively grown 

 in eastern sections for the market, and in all sections as a 

 late forage crop. Rowen promised to be an unusually heavy 

 crop. Late potatoes were generally suffering from blight. 

 There was a slight increase in the acreage of tobacco, and an 

 excellent crop. Pastm"es were in unusually good condition. 

 Apples promised only a very small crop ; pears also light ; 

 peaches light, but better than usual ; grapes set unusually 

 full, and developing well ; cranberries promised a very good 

 crop. Oats were a heavy crop, though suffering from rust ; 

 barley good as a late forage crop. 



At the close of September the corn crop appeared to be a 

 bumper one, and to have been secured practically without 

 damage from frost or rain. The rowen crop was a little 

 above the normal in general, and in the main was secured in 

 good condition. Feed in pastures suffered from drought. 

 Much less than the usual amount of fall seeding was done, 

 owing to dry whether, and that put in came forward very 

 slowly. Onions were considerably less than a normal crop, 

 having blighted badly. Potatoes gave a better crop than 

 was expected, but still considerably below the normal. Root 

 crops suffered somewhat from drought, and celery suffered 

 severely from the same cause. Late market-garden crops 

 generally promised light yields. Apples dropped badly, and 

 the crop promised to be very light ; pears a fair crop ; peaches 

 did not yield as well as was expected ; grapes showed con- 

 siderable rot and mildew ; cranberries promised a good 

 average crop, generally secured in good condition. 



