18 



In regard to agricultural products, the season was on the 

 whole propitious, so far as relates to this section. The first crop 

 of hay was in some instances lessened by the spring drought, and 

 in others was deficient from injury done by ice, as before men- 

 tioned ; but the crop was nearly an average one, and under the 

 favorable weather which followed, the aftermath was abundant. 

 Pastures Avere green and luxuriant from June to November. 

 The crops of small grain (so called) gave, generally, an average 

 yield, with the exception of wheat, which from the attack of 

 blight, was not so uniformly good as it had been for several pre- 

 vious years. Indian corn gave a fine yield, notwithstanding fears 

 • were for awhile entertained that much of it would not ripen. 

 Potatoes grew finely through the season, and the yield was gen- 

 erally more abundant than that of any previous crop for several 

 years. Still the tubers have not been altogether free from the 

 rot — that mysterious malady which for nearly twenty years has 

 been more or less destructive to the crop, both in this country and 

 in Europe. 



But the special characteristic of the season in regard to pro- 

 ductions, was the abundance of apples and pears. The yield of 

 these fruits was even greater than that of 1860, which was re- 

 garded as unprecedented. Cherry trees have not recovered from 

 the great injury sustained in the autumn of 1860 and the follow- 

 ing winter. The crop was very small, and the quality of the fruit 

 generally inferior. Peach trees of proper age for bearing, which 

 were not killed by the winter of 1860-1, bore fair crops of good 

 fruit in 1862. 



It will be recollected that some species of insects, not hereto- 

 fore common in this section, appeared here in great numbers in 

 1861. Allusion is particularly made to the army-worm and grain 

 aphis or louse. The ravages of these were spoken of in the 

 Report of this Committee for last year. Fears were entertained 



the 28th of November, exceeded by nearly a foot the average quantity for the year, 

 as follows : 



1862. At Cambridge. Average at Boston, 



la. in. 



January 7.69 3.45 



February 2.79 3.31 



March 6.21 3.58 



April 1.73 3.79 



May 2.32 3.51 



June 6.29 2.64 



July 5.05 3.30 



August 6.29 4.28 



September 4.66 3.28 



October 5.24 3.47 



November to 28th 6.73 4.31 



December 4.14 



55.00 43.06 



