The Season. 

 April was a cold and unpleasant montb, conditions more 

 like those ordinarily found in March prevailing during tlie 

 greater part of the month. May therefore opened backward, 

 and the cold, stormy weather of the month has still further 

 retarded agricultural operations, the fruit bloom and the 

 development of vegetation. Correspondents unite in saying 

 that the season is from one to two weeks later than usual, 

 some even saying three weeks. There has been much cloudy, 

 unpleasant weather, and the rainfall, though not heavy, was 

 well distributed and kept the ground well moistened. Sev- 

 eral light to severe frosts occurred, ice forming in some 

 sections half an inch thick on several mornings. 



Pastures and Mowings. 

 Grass of all kinds is reported to have wintered well, fall 

 seeding being generally reported as in good condition, with 

 only a very few reports of an unfavorable nature. The cold 

 weather has held grass back, pastures being late in starting 

 and mowings also being backAvard, but with the timely rains 

 the general effect on the grass crop has been excellent. Sel- 

 dom has there been a thicker or more luxuriant undergrowth 

 on mowings, or promise, with reasonable rains, of a better 

 crop of hay, at this time of year. Steady warm weather 

 will probably advance the crop very rapidly, but otherwise 

 haying will be a week later than usual in beginning. 



Fruit Bloom. 

 The apple bloom appears to be an average one for the 

 non-bearing year, as it is in most sections, but was delayed 

 in appearing, so that it was not fully out at time of making 

 returns. The peach bloom is very light, and many peach 

 trees are reported killed by the severe winter. Pears and 

 plums show a light bloom, and cherries do not appear to 

 be exceptionally heavy. Small fruits and berries bloomed 

 well, where bloom had appeared; but raspberries and black- 

 berries were reported as winter-killed. The frosts of the 



