viii BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



ward, owing to the unfavorable weather of May. There was 

 an increase in acreage of fodder and ensilage corn. A less 

 acreage of potatoes was reported, the big crop and v^ery low 

 prices last year having had the usual discouraging eflfect. 

 Early market-garden crops yielded well, but prices were low. 

 Late crops were reported in good condition. Prices for 

 dairy products were lower in June than in former years, 

 while the supply was above the average, on account of fine 

 condition of the pastures. Prospect for apples and small 

 fruits was good, while the promise for pears and cherries 

 was light. Cut worms were unusually prevalent and did 

 considerable damage to tobacco in the Connecticut valley. 



July was favorable for most crops, but did not furnish the 

 usual amount of good hay weather. The hay crop was 

 short, on account of lack of moisture in the early part of 

 the season, and was considerably damaged in making. Rye, 

 oats and barley were good crops, and Indian corn was grow- 

 ing fast and had nearly recovered from the effect of unfavor- 

 able weather of May. A feature of July was the appearance 

 of the army worm in destructive numbers generally through- 

 out the State. 



August was favorable for corn, forage crops, rowen, fall 

 feed and pastures. Tobacco was harvested in fine condition 

 and was a splendid crop, but prices for this crop are still 

 low. An extra crop of Indian corn was harvested in Sep- 

 tember. Fall seeding made a good catch. Onions did not 

 yield an average crop and autumn prices were low ; later 

 prices were higher, and growers that held the crop were 

 fortunate. Late potatoes were injured by drought early in 

 the season and later by blight and grubs. The crop was 

 below the average in quantity and quality, while prices were 

 less than last year, but competition of localities where the 

 crop was larger and of finer quality prevented a boom. The 

 promise of a large apple crop was more than realized, and 

 probably the largest crop of winter apples ever grown in 

 the State was harvested. The foreign and domestic markets 

 were glutted by the over-supply, and prices were unremuner- 

 ative. Our orchardists are somewhat discouraged by these 

 conditions. They feel that when prices are fair, the crop 

 is small ; when the crop is large, prices are too low for 



