8 



weather was seasonal, with the daily temperatures ranging 

 from normal to 10° above. The warmest days were the 

 14t]i, 16th and 19th, when the mercury during the day 

 time ranged in the 80's. The remainder of the month was 

 unusually cool, with the day temperatures in the 60's and 

 the nights 40° or louver. Light to moderate frosts occurred 

 on several nights in many sections, particularly on the 

 21st and the 22d. For the month as a whole there was 

 a deficiency in sunshine. Showers fell on an average on 

 twelve days, although the monthly precipitation was gen- 

 erally deficient in amount. The weather was also rather 

 blustering, there being a number of days with brisk to high 

 winds. The general cloudiness, combined wdth the low tem- 

 peratures, caused the month to be one of the most unpleasant 

 of its name. At its close the season was from ten days to a 

 fortnight late. 



In the circular to correspondents, returnable May 24, the 

 following questions were asked : — 



1. How does the season compare, agriculturally speaking, 

 with a normal season? 



2. What is the promise for pastures and mowings, and 

 did fall seeding winter well? 



3. How did the bloom of apples, pears, peaches, plums and 

 small fruits compare with the bloom of former years, and 

 has it suffered from frosts? 



4. What insects appear to be doing the most damage in 

 your locality ? 



5. How is planting progressing? 



6. Is farm help scarce or plenty, and what proportion can 

 be called good help ? 



7. What are the average wages paid farm help in your 

 vicinity, with board ? Without board ? 



8. Will there be any marked change in the acreage of the 

 usual farm crops, particularly corn and potatoes, and do 

 you note any new enterprises in the line of agriculture ? 



Returns were received from 149 correspondents, and from 

 them the following summary has been compiled : — 



