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wintered well. Fruit bloom was full, but has probably suffered from 

 frosts. Tent caterpillars are the only insects present as yet. Not 

 much planting has been done, because of cold weather. Help is scarce, 

 and not more than half of it good help. Wages average $25 per month 

 with board and $35 to $40 per month without board. There will be 

 no change in the acreage of the usual farm crops. 



Chicopee (E. L. Shaw). — The season is very backward for every- 

 thing but hay and grain. Pastures and mowings are doing well and 

 fall seeding wintered well. Apple bloom full; pears fair; peaches none, 

 and trees badly winter-killed ; small fruits badly winter-killed. Elm 

 tree beetles, the San Jose scale and white scale are all doing damage. 

 Planting is progressing slowly, on account of cold weather. Farm help 

 is very scarce, and one-half might be called good help. Wages average 

 $25 per month with board and $1.50 per day without board. Less 

 potatoes than usual have been planted, and more corn; acreage of 

 grass increased. 



East Longmeadow (John L. Davis). — The season is about four weeks 

 late. Pastures and mowings look well; fall seeding wintered well. 

 There is a good bloom of apples, pears and plums; no peaches. Tt is 

 too early for damage by insects. Planting is now in full swing. Farm 

 help is very scarce, and of poor quality. Wages range from $20 to 

 $25 per month with board and from $1.50 to $1.75 per day of nine 

 hours without board. There will probably be a smaller acreage of farm 

 crops than usual, owing to shortage of help. 



Monson (F. D. Rogers). — Season very good, though late. Mow- 

 ings and pastures look well, but are later than usual. Apples and plums 

 bloomed full; no peaches; pears three-fourths bloom; raspberries 

 winter-killed badly. No insects are doing damage to any extent. 

 Planting is very late. Most farmers have help by the month, but day 

 help is scarce. Wages average $20 per month with board and $30 per 

 month without board, but with tenement and fuel. There are no 

 marked changes in the acreage of farm crops. 



Holland (Francis Wight). — The season is cold and backward. 

 Pastures and mowings are looking fairly well. It is too early to report 

 certainly in regard to fruit bloom. No insects have appeared as yet. 

 Planting is progressing slowly. Farm help is scarce. Wages average 

 $1 per day with board and $1.50 per day without board. There will 

 be no marked changes in the acreage of farm crops. 



WORCESTER COUNTY. 



Dudley (J. J. Gilles). — The season is late. Pastures and mowings 

 promise well, and fall seeding wintered well. Off year for apples, and 

 bloom light ; pears normal ; peaches a failure ; plums fair ; frosts have 

 undoubtedly done some injury. No insects have been destructive as 

 yet. Planting is progressing fairly well. There is an unusual scarcity 



