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well; mowings look well; pastures just getting well started. Apples 

 show a very heavy bloom; j^ears from one-half to two-thirds of the 

 normal; no peaches. No planting has been done, except of potatoes. 

 Farm help is more scarce than ever, and also poorer than ever. Wages 

 range from $20 to $25 per month with board and average $35 per 

 month without board. There are no particular changes in the acreage 

 of farm crops. Plums, cherries and strawberries were perhaps damaged 

 by frosts on the 20th and 21st. 



Cummington (S. W. Clark). — The season is from eight to ten days 

 late. Pastures and mowings promise well; fall seeding winter-killed 

 somewhat. Apple bloom not out yet; other fruits blossomed well. 

 No insects are active as yet. Planting is progressing slowly; ground 

 cold and help scarce. Farm help is very scarce indeed. Nearly all 

 our farmers are getting along without hiring; wages from $1.50 to 

 $1.75 per day without board. Probably the acreage of farm crops 

 will be less than usual. 



HAMPDEN COUNTY. 



Blandford (Enos W. Boise) . — The season is fully three weeks 

 late. Pastures are short, but mowings look fairly well. Apples not 

 yet in bloom, but promise average bloom ; pears and plums full bloom ; 

 wild berries fair bloom. A few tent caterpillars are coming out. Very 

 little planting has been done. Farm help is scarce, and not over one 

 in ten perfectly rehable. Wages average $25 per month and $1.25 

 per day with board and $40 per month and $1.75 per day without 

 board. A smaller acreage of field crops than usual will be planted, 

 owing to cold weather and a scarcity of help. , 



Russell (E. D. Parks). — The season is very backward. Pastures 

 and mowings promise well; fall seeding wintered well. The fruit 

 bloom is fully up to the average, except for peaches; no frost since 

 apple trees came in bloom. Tent caterpillars have appeared. Plant- 

 ing is backward, but is being rushed at present. Farm help is very 

 scarce, and there is but little good help obtainable. Wages average 

 $25 per month with board and range from $40 to $45 per month 

 without board. There are no marked changes in the acreage of farm 

 crops. 



West Springfield (T. A. Rogers). — The season is about two weeks 

 late. Pastures are a little short, and growth slow; mowdngs looking 

 well, but late ; fall seeding looking well. Apples a full average ; peaches 

 all killed ; pears and plums half bloom. No insects are doing damage 

 as yet. Potato planting about done, and corn now being planted. 

 Help is very scarce, and most of it very ordinary or poor. Wages 

 average $25 per month with board and $1 . 50 to $1 . 75 per day without 

 board, 



Agawam (John G. Burt). — The season is two weeks later than 

 usual. Pastures and mowings are in good condition, and fall seeding 



