CROP REPORT FOE THE MONTH OF JULY, 1888. 



Returned to the Department of Agriculture, Aug. 1, 1888. 



Office State Board of Agbiculture, 



Boston, Mass., Aug. 3, 1888. 



General Remarks. 



It gives us pleasure to announce in our second bulletin 

 that the expectations referred to in the first have been 

 largely realized. The reports of correspondents are not 

 only greater in number but are better in quality and cover 

 the State much more thoroughly. This work is undertaken 

 for the benefit of the farmers of Massachusetts, and copies of 

 the bulletins will be mailed free upon application to this 

 office. These bulletins are intended to show the acreage 

 and condition of crops on the first day of each month, and 

 reports should be made out and mailed to us not more than 

 two days before the end of the month. 



The Weather. 



July was a very cool month and, with the exception of 

 July, 1884, the coolest seventh month for twenty-one years. 

 The heaviest storm occurred on the 11th and 12th, accompa- 

 nied with high winds, which did more or less damage to 

 growing crops and fruit trees all over the State. Bristol, 

 Northern Essex, Norfolk, Worcester and Plymouth counties 

 suffered from drouth during the first two weeks and consider- 

 able damage to growing crops was the result. Light rains, 

 however, during the last of the month greatly helped vege- 

 tation. Xo frosts or hail-storms have been reported. The 

 dry weather in the early part of the month was very favora- 

 ble for securing the hay crop? which is reported as being 

 unusually large and of good quality. 



