26 



help. Wages average $1 per day with board and $1 . 50 per day without 

 board. There are no changes in the acreage of farm crops. 



Barnstable (John Bursley). — The season is a few days late, and 

 very cold at time of writing. Pastures and mowings are looking well; 

 seeding that started well last fall is looking well. All fruit bloom 

 appears to be full; no damage from frosts. The cold weather has 

 prevented damage from insects. Planting is progressing very slowly 

 upon heavy ground. Farm help is very scarce indeed, and one-third 

 of it good help. Wages average $25 per month with board and 20 cents 

 per hour without board. 



Harwich (Ambrose N. Doane). — The season is very backward. 

 Pastures and mowings do not promise very well. Fruit trees are not 

 looking well; no damage from frosts. No insects are doing damage. 

 Planting is progressing favorably. Farm help is very scarce, and not 

 much of it good help. Wages average $25 per month with board and 

 $40 without. There is an increased acreage of potatoes this year. 



Eastham (J. A. Clark). — The season is very late, at least ten days. 

 Pastures and mowings are in good condition. There is a light bloom 

 of fruits, and they have not suffered from frosts. No insects are doing 

 special damage. Planting progresses fairly well. Farm help is scarce, 

 but is mostly fairly good. Wages range from $25 to $30 per month 

 with board and average $45 per month without board. Quite a large 

 crop of asparagus has been set this spring; season is on, with fairly 

 good prices. 



Truro (John B. Dyer). — The season is about two weeks behind. 

 Grass looks well, only late; fall seeding fair. Little early to predict 

 as to fruit bloom; no damage from frosts as yet. No insects have 

 appeared as yet. Planting is progressing more slowly than usual. 

 Farm help is confined largely to big boys, from sixteen to twenty 

 years of age. Wages average from $15 to $20 per month vnth. board 

 and from 15 to 20 cents per hour without board. One new cranberry 

 bog is being made, from 30 to 40 acres. 



DUKES COUNTY. 



West Tisbury (Geo. Hunt Luce), — The season is very backward, 

 on accoimt of cold weather. Pastures and mowings promise well. The 

 fruit bloom is very backward on all kinds. No insects have appeared 

 as yet. Planting is progressing slowly. Farm help is scarce, and about 

 one-fourth of it good help. Wages average $20 per month with board 

 and range from $1.50 to $2 per day without board. There are no 

 marked changes in the acreage of the usual farm crops. 



