No. 4.] MASSACHUSETTS CROPS. xxxi 



and good prices \yerc received. The set of fruit was not what 

 was expected from the bloom. More farmers have sprayed 

 than in any previous year. 



Little damage was reported from insects in July. Corn 

 came forward very rapidly, and at the close of the month 

 was near the normal. The hay crop was one of the best for 

 years and secured in good condition. Rowen did not start 

 well, owing to lack of rain. The usual acreage of forage 

 crops was put in, corn and millet being the favorites. 

 Market-garden crops were uneven, some having suffered from 

 drought, with prices lower than of late years. Apples 

 dropped badly, and promised poorly; pears and plums light; 

 peaches rather better than usual ; quinces promised well ; 

 grapes average ; cranberries not above average. Pastures 

 were beginning to suffer from drought. Rye and oats were 

 good crops in most sections. Barley looked well as a late 

 forage crop. IS^ew orchards were not extensively planted in 

 1909 and 1910, but reports indicated that old orchards re- 

 ceived much better care in pruning, spraying and fertilizing 

 than ever before. 



Corn was greatly benefited by the light rains of August 

 and made good progress. There was little rowen in prospect 

 on any but newly seeded fields. Early potatoes were much 

 below the normal, but late potatoes looked well, with a few 

 cases of rot reported. The acreage of tobacco in the Con- 

 necticut valley was about the same as formerly. The crop 

 responded finely to the rains and promised to be very nearly 

 normal. The returns indicated a light crop of apples, espe- 

 cially winter varieties ; pears fair ; peaches rather above the 

 average ; grapes average ; quinces fairly good ; cranberries 

 somewhat below average. Pasturage improved with the rains 

 of the month. Oats were an average crop for grain, but not 

 quite as good as usual for hay and green feed. Celery suf- 

 fered severely from drought ; other late market-garden crops 

 backward, but growing well. 



September showed Indian corn matured well in almost 

 all sections, and generally close to a normal crop, both for 

 ffrain and stover. There was little rowen in most sections, 

 except in southeastern Massachusetts, where it was in excess 



