JS!tKi> * UMASS/AMHERST * 312066 0333 2581 1 I . ; v aiy s/ iNfe ■*\2&. iW &« LIBRARY OF THE MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE NO.__9_?_(o_4____PATE__Jl-J_S_^L0 souRCE.EjoikaT>^e._ tTer -«• Bulletin No. (. CHOP RE POET MONTH OF JUNE, I88S: siiou'ini; THE ACREAGE AND CONDITION OF GROWING (HOPS THE FIRST OF JULY, AND OTHER MATTERS RELATING TO AGRICUL- TURE IN MASSACHUSETTS. WM. R. SESSIONS, SECRETARY. BOSTON : Wright & Potter Printing Company, State Printers, 18 Post Office Square. 1888. Fcr 2>* h% t CROP REPORT FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE, 1888. Returned to the Department of Agriculture, July 1, 1888. Office State Board of Agriculture, Boston, Mass., July 5, 1888. General Remarks. YVe regret to announce that our first bulletin falls far short of what we had hoped to make it. Those who have acted as our correspondents have done remarkably well. In most cases their returns are complete and to the point. Although hut about a third of the granges and farmers' clubs have made the desired returns, we take courage from the third and go forward with our experiment, trusting that next month another third will fall into line. The primary object of these crop report publications is to benefit the farmers, and a careful reading of the ' ' Notes of Correspondents " will give a very clear idea of the general condition of farm operations and crops. Copies of this bulletin will be sent upon application. The Weather. The present season has been unusually cold and wet. Spring opened late and was followed by a rainy May, there being but few pleasant days during the entire month. Hot days have been a rarity ; consequently the season has been very backward and all hoed crops have suffered. One cor- respondent pertinently [Hits it thus: " No crops are suffer- ing for the want of moisture." Grass. This is surely a grass year, and the indications are that the hay crop will be unusually large and of good quality. Ow- ing to the lateness of the season very little haying has been done, but, with favorable weather, the next ten days will see most of it cared for. As the hay crop is one of the most important and valuable crops grown, farmers can well af- ford to have their other crops a little late if they are thereby enabled to fill their barns with hay. Our pastures are in an unusually good condition. One correspondent says, " Last year and this being wet has settled the question ' How to reclaim our pastures.'" Our returns put the average condi- tion of grass for the State at 110 and of pastures at 110. ( V)RN. Corn has been somewhat affected by the peculiarity of the season, and needs some hot weather to bring it up to its nor- mal condition. Nearly all of the correspondents report it as looking well, though a little late. Our returns put the aver- age condition of corn for the State at 93 and the acreage about the same as last year. Eve. Rye is looking well and is somewhat earlier than usual. The acreage is about the same as last year. Our returns put the average condition of rye for the State at 100. Tobacco. Our returns from the tobacco-growing portions of the State are so meagre that we cannot give any figures relative to the acreage and condition of the tobacco crop. The cold weather delayed the growth of the plants and thus made the setting somewhat late. The acreage is a little less than hist year. The condition of the crop at date is good. Potatoes. Potatoes both early and late are looking well, and the out- look for ;i large crop is good. The acreage is about the same as last year and the condition normal. Potato bugs are reported as plenty and aggressive. FlM II . The strawberry crop is somewhat delayed, owing to the cold, wet spring, and the quality of the fruit is hardly up to the average. The acreage is about the same as last year. In some sections the indications are that the apple crop will be very small. Other sections, however, bring the average up to a normal. The indications are that the peach crop will be a good one. Our returns put the average at 100. NOTES OF CORRESPONDENTS. BERKSHIRE COUNTY. Williamstown. — The grub worm and cold weather make corn a little behind for the season, but it is fast coming on now. S. A. Hickox. BRISTOL COUNTY. Dartmouth. — Season very backward. Everything late except grass, which is about ready to cut. L. T. Davis. ESSEX COUNTY. Marblehead. — The cold weather in May somewhat retarded the early growth, but the recent hot days have brought the crops up to the average for the season. W. S. Phillips, Jr. Methnen. — The season is very backward, but is now coining on fast. Haying will begin after July 2, but little being done before. Plenty of wet weather. Chas. W. Mann. FRANKLIN COUNTY. Ashfield. — The weather has been unusually wet to date. Com stands well, but is backward. I have never seen as much heavy grass and so badly down. Chauncey Boise. Charlemont. — The snow covering the ground till late in the spring was favorable for grass in mowings and pastures. The season has been rather inclined to be wet. All crops arc looking well. Potato bugs, cabbage and currant worms arc quite plenty. In Heath, planting was delayed on account of wet ground. Pota- toes are now coming up. Corn is small. H. S. Giles. Monroe. — The few farms in this mountain town raise but little except for home consumption, save butter and some potatoes and apples. The exceptionally cold and late spring made seeding some ten days later than usual. The high temperature from the 13th to the 25th has advanced grass to a normal growth for this date. Since the 25th we are having very cool weather. Orchards are full of fruit. W. II. Allen. Deerjiehl. — The hay crop is good, and the first crop will be more than an average. Corn is looking well, but is a few days late. Rye looks well and is early. Oats do not look quite as well as usual. Tobacco is looking well. More onions are grown, and they are looking well. Charles Jones. HAMPDEN COUNTY. Agawam. — It has been a peculiar season, the first part cold and wet, making almost all crops from a week to ten days later than usual. E. L. Thompson. Wilbraham. — There has been an abundance of rain. Grass has grown rapidly and is eight or ten days earlier than usual. H. M. Bliss. HAMPSHIRE COUNTY. Belcherlown. — The turnip crop is a prospective one and not yet in the ground. It is considered by some of our farmers as one of the best money crops, and one-fourth increased acreage there will without doubt be this year. H. C. West. 8 MIDDLESEX COUNTY. Concord. — This season so far has been noted fur excessive moisture, making much of our low lands too wet for use. Crops generally are looking well, though backward. Concord probably sends the greater part of the asparagus sold in Boston from here. F. G. Pratt. Dunstable. — Most of our crops are looking well. Potato bugs arc very plenty. Dexter Butterfield. Groton. — Everything at the present time looks better than the average year. The promise of harvest is great. Daniel Neepham. Hudson. — Apples look well, no canker worms and few other insects. Two thousand barrels more than last year will be shipped from Hudson Pailroad station, if nothing happens. A larger acreage of ensilage corn planted, and it now looks better than last year. G. A. COTTING. Sudbury. — The season is backward and wet. Hay crop equal to average. Potatoes looking well, so are cabbages. Corn late. Corn, potatoes and hay are the principal crops grown. H. N. Smith. Wilmington. — I should say that all crops are looking at this date fully up to the average of last year. Oats and barley are raised for fodder only. ('has. W. Swain. NANTUCKET COUNTY. Nantucket. — Very wet and cold. Every kind of vegetation two weeks behind. Corn and potatoes promise well. Turnips not planted yet. CHAS. W. ( rARDNER. PLYMOUTH COUNTY. Halifax. —The spring has been very late, but crops arc at date nearly as far advanced as usual. Potatoes and grass bid fair for a very heavy crop. Corn is looking well, ( . \\ . I 1 \ Y\\ AIM). Hingham. — Corn needs hot weather ; the cool nights have kept it hack, though there is yet time for it to recover, Crass promises to be our best crop this year. Potatoes are not quite up to last year at this time, but the harvest may be much better. Edmund Heksev. VY< >i;< ESTER COUNTY. Barre. — Corn has been much troubled by crows. The stand of most plants is an average. B. W. Washburn. Bolton. — A hail storm passed over one-third of this town June .'!<», doing apparently considerable damage to the crops and to fruit trees. The onion maggot is doing more damage than usual. Crops of all kinds are late, on account of wet weather. Marshall Walcott. Bolton. — The severest hail storm that was ever known passed over a portion of this town Saturday, June 30, at 5 p. m., com- pletely destroying all hoed crops and badly affecting apples. I think the storm was not over three-fourths of a mile wide. The wind blew a gale. II. F. Haynes. Douglas. — Potato bugs and cut worms numerous and aggress- ive. Crops generally rather late. V. T. Esten. Gardner. — The weather has been remarkably wet, and grass f and all hoed crops, excepting corn, look finely. W. E. Knight. 10 Hardwick. — Our pastures have nearly recovered from the drouth of the past. Last year and this being wet has settled the question " How to reclaim our pastures." George Manly. Harvard. — Season cold and very wet. W. H. Fairbanks. Holden. — Corn came up well. Crows a great nuisance. Potato bugs very plenty. AVe are having very wet, cold weather. Hay- making almost impossible. Geo. 8. Graham. Northbo rough. — Very little haying yet done, on account of poor hay weather ; grass of all kinds is fast coming to maturity ; newly seeded fields are lodging badly. Oats grown mostly as a forage crop. J. L. Allen. Petersham. — Apple-tree insects, striped squash bugs and cut worms all fewer than usual. Potato bugs 100-}-. Weather humid and warm. Severe hail storm June 15, covering small area at centre of town. S. 1». Cook. Sterling. — Potato bugs very numerous. Grasshoppers abundant. The spring has been very wet, consequently the crops are very backward. The hay crop bids fair to be abundant. Henry S. Sawyer. Templeton. — Spring opened extremely late, and very wet weather during May. Farmers unusually late in planting. Grass extra in quantity. Since the first of June the weather has been propitious, and vegetation is pushing rapidly ahead. The potato beetle is our greatest insect pest. 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SESSIONS, Secretary Board of Agriculture. BOSTON : Wright & Potter Printing Company, State Printers, 18 Post Office Square. 1SS8. 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. B A UNSTABLE COUNTY. The cranberry crop below Barnstable promises only about three-quarters of a full yield. For the remainder of the county one hundred is about a fair average of condition. Berkshire County. Corn backward but looking well. Rye harvested in good condition. Hay of good quality and well stored. Worms injured the hay crop in Williamstown some ten per cent. Oats lair but somewhat rusted. Potatoes late but looking well. Bristol County. July very dry until the 20th. Since then light rains have revived vegetation. Essex County. All crops looking better than the average. Hay above the average }neld and of extra quality. Some dry weather the first two weeks, then plenty of light rains. Franklin County. Corn late but looking well. Tobacco is pushing forward rapidly, is of even growth and there is prospect of an extra fine and sound crop. Hay crop heavy, of extra quality and well secured. Pastures have suffered some from dry weather. Considerable damage was done in Charlemont by the storm of the 11th and 12th. Hampden County. Corn looks well but is bile, and on low lands is somewhat spindling owing to wet weather. Hay a good crop and well secured. Potatoes promise well. Pastures fair. Rye an average crop. / Hampshire County. Frequent rains in the early part of July pushed crops forward but the recent cool nights have retarded their growth. Hay crop about an average and of good quality. Rowen has started well. Corn is looking well though late. Tobacco looks well. Middlesex County. Corn is unusually backward but looks well. Haying is about done, and the crop is fully up to the average and of good quality. All crops are looking well. In Ashby the grape crop will be a partial failure. In the spring the blos- som buds gave promise of a crop but the berries did not set. The hail-storm of June 30 did considerable damage to fruit in Hudson. Norfolk County. The dry weather of the past month has materially de- creased the prospect of good corn and potato crops. In Franklin the decrease is estimated at from one-tenth to one- fifth. Plymouth County. Dry weather hurt all crops, especially potatoes. Recent rains have made a change for the better. In Plymouth many cranberry bogs have been badly damaged by the tire- worm. Worcester County. Corn is very backward but is looking well. Dry weather did some damage in nearly all sections of the county. The hay crop a large one, of good quality and well secured. Owing to dry weather rowen has not made a very good start. In Petersham and other places apples are falling oil" badly. Potatoes promise well except in towns most affected by dry weather. Pastures are getting short. NOTES OF CORRESPONDENTS. BARNSTABLE COUNTY. East Dennh. — The report of lOo^m acreage of cranberries and 75 for condition is, I think, a fair one for the county below Barn- stable. The balance of the county, as near as I can ascertain, will go about 100. Joshua Ckowell. BERKSHIRE COUNTY. South Egremont. — Winter rye harvested in good condition. Oats showing more or less rust in many fields. Many farmers have the hay crop secured in good condition. Quality better than last year, but about the same burden. Weather dry and streams getting low. C. B. Benedict. Savoy. — Corn is backward, the weather being cold and dry improves slowly. Hay more than an average crop and being nicely stored. Potatoes late but looking well. Bugs numerous and a pest. Pastures have been good thus far, but are being pinched by the drouth now. Grass is our staple production. Corn is but little cultivated. Rye is hardly known at this time. Oats raised mostly fof fodder. Potatoes have been :i production of considerable importance, but owing to the failure on many farms last year but a small acreage was planted this year. W. W. Burnett. Williamslown. — Corn stands well, but is behindhand : the late rains may bring it on. Oats fair growth but rusted generally. Barley promises belter. Hay set thick, but a worm at the second joint below the head on Timothy has cut our yield fully ten per cent. S. A. Hickox. BRISTOL COUNTY. Dartmouth. — Corn has improved very much after the rains we have lately had in this section. Hay very good and well stored. Some vegetation has not yet come up to the standard for the season after the lateness of the spring. L. T. Davis. Maynham. — Most crops have suffered from the drouth, but within a few days have nearly recovered and bid fair to exceed the past year. Hay was not secured in season to have it of first quality. N. W. Shaw. Swansea. — July was very dry until the 20th. Since then we have had moisture enough for vegetation. J. PL Eastabrooks. ESSEX COUNTY. Ameshury. — Dry weather during the first and second week in July furnished good hay weather, but was injurious to the fields just mown, also to early potatoes. High winds injured the foli- age of trees and was a means of increasing the effect of the dry weather. During the third and fourth weeks light rains revived vegetation. B. F. Huntington. Andover. — For the month the weather has been cool and the showers of late leave everything in good thrifty condition, one very heavy shower blowing off a good many apples. L. A. Bassett. Georgetown. — All the crops are looking better than the average of previous years. O. S. Butler. Haverhill. — Our farmers are nearly done haying one of the best crops on record, both as to quality and quantity. Coin is looking first-rate notwithstanding the cold nights. A large; potato crop is expected. Apples dropped some during the short drouth the first of the month, but the recent rains have checked that to 8 such an extent as to insure a good crop if nothing now sets in. In short, everything at present is fully up to or ahead of the average. G. F. 8. Webster. Marblehead. — The prospect for a bountiful crop never was better. A quick market and good prices are only needed to com- plete the farmers' happiness. AY. S. Phillips. Metlmen. — Hay was rather above the average. Grain, except corn, is very little grown, but two warm nights this season mak- ing it very backward for some crops. C. W. Manx. West Newbury. — Caterpillars have been a scourge in this region this season. The dry spell has made it among the impossibilities to cut rowen of any consequence. T. J. King. West Newbury. — Dry weather has caused some of our crops to be pinched. Strawberries and early potatoes have suffered some, although the present raius will help them. Oscar Gowen. FRANKLIN COUNTY. Ash field. — Weather cool and moist. Hay crop secured in good order. Corn about two weeks behind. Apples promise now to be large, fair and plenty. Chauncex Boice. BucMand. — Hay very good and mostly harvested. Corn rather backward but looking well. Apples a promising crop. Potatoes are not sufficiently advanced for us to know what the crop will be. F. Forbes. Charlemont. — The high wind of July 11 and 12 did consider- able damage to crops, particularly to fruit and fruit trees. Many of them were broken down, and the ground was strewed with leaves and apples. Pain is very much needed for all growing crops. Potatoes are looking well. Crops have made great im- provement in the past two weeks. H. S. Giles. 9 Deerfield. — The first crop of bay is more than average in quantity and quality. Rowen is late and will be light. Rye came in we'll and the quality is good. Oats are not harvested but are light. After a review of the crops in Deerfield, Sunder- land, Iladlev, Hatfield and Whately I think the whole crop a fair average. Charles Jones. Monroe. — July was rather dry, but a few light showers have kept the crops growing. The mean temperature, ten degrees lower than last year for July, has made corn slow of growth. Hay crop good, and excellent weather for securing it in fine con- dition. Pastures need more rain. Wm. H. Allen. Rouse. — We had fine showers on the 81st, which will help our dry pastures that have suffered from drouth the past three weeks. C. C. Wheaton. Sunderland. — Farmers are through haying. It is a good crop and most of it is secured in good condition. Corn is looking well. Tobacco is looking very even and fine. We have a little more than two hundred acres of onions and they are doing well. It looks now as if we should have a good crop. M. H. Clark. South Deerfield. — Season too cold for corn and it makes slow growth, but should frost hold off until late we ma}7 have a good crop. Hay a very heavy crop of extra quality and secured in fine order. Tobacco is pushing forward rapidly, is of very even growth, and there is a prospect of an extra fine and sound crop. W. W. Sanderson. HAMPDEN COUNTY. Agavxim. — Rye and hay are nearly all in the barn in good con- dition. Many farmers are hoeing their corn now that could not find time before haying. Many acres have not been hoed nt all. Almost all crops need more warm weather. We have had plenty of rain. E. L. Thompson. 10 Blandjord. — Owing to the wet, late spring and continuous showers the grass crop is heavy, with much fine white clover. Corn stands well but late. Potatoes promise a good yield though planted late. Pastures are good and stock is thriving well. E W. Boise. Bri infield. — Hay a good crop, but it grew so much in the shade and there was so much rain it will not keep as much stock as last year. Rowen begins to look well. Everything looks well. S. W. Brown. Hampden. — As an index of the season white clover blossoms may be seen in abundance in the pastures, something unusual at this late date. J. N. ISHAM. Long-meadow. — Apples none to speak of. Corn is looking well. Potatoes bid fair. Hay is good and heavy. Rye an average crop. Oats small and light. Our pastures hold good. E. H. Wheelock. West Springfield. — All crops doing well. Potatoes better than usual. Corn promising. Apples abundant in spots. J. N. Bagg. Wilbraham. — Corn is backward, and unless August is a warm mouth the crop will be light. H. M. Bliss. Wilbraham. — Indian corn is not up to the average, we have had too much wet and too little heat; on low lands, especially, it is looking cpiite spindling and yellow. Rye and oats are more than average crop. Pastures have been remarkably good. Pota- toes are looking finely where the bugs, which have been very plenty, have been kept off F. Yj. Clare. HAMPSHIRE COUNTY. Amherst. • — Too much rain for low lands, but on dry and sandy land crops are looking finely. E. T. Sabin. 11 Belchertown. — Considerable bay still remains uncut. Not as heavy a crop as was anticipated at the commencement of haying but of superior quality, and that stored has been put in in fine condition. H. C. West. North Hddley. — The hay crop has been gathered in good con- dition. All crops are a week later than usual. Frequent rains in the early part of July pushed crops forward, but coed nights during the last part of the month have retarded their growth so that they are not as forward as desired. H. C. Russell. Ware. — The farmers are nearly done haying, and in most every case with an increase from last }'ear. Quality very good and it has been secured in good condition. The rowen crop is not far enough advanced to report fully, but it has started well. Early potatoes promise a good yield. Late potatoes look fairly well. F. W. H All WOOD. MIDDLESEX COUNTY. Ashby. — There are 20 acres of grapes in town. They are quite late but a warm August and September will save them. Not half a crop. In the spring the blossom buds gave promise of a crop, but the berries did not set. One vineyard of 3,500 vines does not give promise of 500 pounds of market grapes. C. F. Hayward. Ashland. — The nights have been very cool, therefore corn is not so far advanced as it was last year at this time, but is looking well. H. A. Dearth. Boxborough. — The recent rains have made all kinds of farm produce look well. A. W. Wetherbee. Concord. — Pastures begin to show the effects of dry weather. Upland having is mostly done ; river meadows just commenced. Market produce selling above the usual prices. F. G. Pratt. 12 Hudson. — We had a hail storm June 30 that injured apples in the narrow path it took. The fruit was bruised by the hail, and what was left on the trees grows very uneven and will not be fit for market. Season is good for pasturage. G. A. Com no. Sudbury. — The weather for July was moderately wet and rather below the average in temperature. Crops are coming forward well now with the exception of field corn, which is unusu- ally backward. Early planted potatoes are looking finely, but those planted late are spindling and have suffered from the attacks of the beetles. The hay crop is fully up to the average and of good quality. H. N. Smith. Wilmington. — The season thus far has been very favorable for the farmer and the prospect fur an abundant harvest is good. C. W. Swain. NORFOLK COUNTY. Dover. — We have had too dry weather for our pastures and rowen crop, and I hardly know how to estimate them. Our main crop is milk and everything tends to that. Eben Higgins. Franklin. — The dry weather of the past three or four weeks has made a decided change in the potato and corn crops, pros- pects decreasing therefrom ten to twenty per cent. N. E. Newell. PLYMOUTH COUNTY. Hanson. — The dry spell began to make the gardens look badly but they now begin to make a better showing. I do not think potatoes will fully recover so as to give us a good crop. Fl.wal S. Tik.mas. M.D. Plymouth. — The cold, phenomenal summer weather has been unfavorable to some crops. Crapes are quite plenty but begin to show signs of mildew. Many cranberry bogs have been badly damaged by the fire-worm, thereby diminishing the crop. D. E. Damon. 13 Wareham. — This town is not in any sense a farming commu- nity. Very little grain is raised and not one-tenth of ve or fruits for home consumption, except cranberries. Cattle are kept for milk alone, mostly sold to summer residents. Hay is raised mostly on permanent meadows, not nearly enough for home use since salt hay has gone out of use. Pastures are mostly permanent and poor. We drew a large supply of vegetables, from neighboring towns. A. Savory. WORCESTER COUNTY. BlacTcstone. — Drouth has injured corn, potatoes and rowen. L. R. Daniels. Bolton. — Apples are looking well, except where the hail of Juue 30 injured them. Pastures are looking remarkably well at this season. Corn is a week behind, but is of good color and growing fast. Oats are generally grown for fodder. Marshall Walcott. Dudley. — The wind on the night of the 11th was not as severe as in neighboring towns. Corn wTas\ not so far advanced as to break. Rye was fully ten per cent, above the average both in straw and berry, but in its crinkled condition this advantage will be lost in harvesting. Apples did not suffer and will yield a full crop, being remarkably free from insect depredations. J. J. GlLLES. Gardner. — The hay crop is remarkably good and housed in I condition. The dry weather is affecting pastures and hoecl crops. W. E. Knight. Hardwick. — Hay nearly all harvested. The best crop in amount and quality for years. Corn late but stands well. Pota- toes promise a large yield. ( rEORGE M vxr.v. Lunenburg. — All crops are looking well at the present time. Very few insects, except the potato beetle,' and that is very troublesome. Apples very free from insects. James Hildreth, 2d. 14 Mention. — The month has been, on the whole, cool. As a result com is nearly three weeks behind last year. The rains came just in season to prevent serious injury to the growing crops and recently mown fields. Our farmers are mostly through haying. H. C. Adams. North Brookfielti. — Every agricultural crop, except hay and apples is from fourteen to eighteen days late. Cold weather and excessive rains prevented an earl}7 growth in the months of May and June. July has not brought up the crops to their usual maturity for the season. L. E. Barnes. Oakham. — The hay crop is nearly all harvested and is the largest one for years. The outlook for a crop of rowen is slim. Pastures are as good as they will average at this time of the year. Corn is a little backward, but is looking well. W. M. Robinson. Paxton. — Indian corn, potatoes, oats, rye, squashes and hay are about all the crops raised here worth mentioning. Corn is looking well, but a little late. The hay crop is good and well secured. Late potatoes are looking well, early ones damaged some by the dry spell. Cats are good and free from rust. Squashes are looking well. Pasturing excellent. H. H. Pike. Petersham. — Apples are falling off badly and the prospect of a good crop is diminishing. The apple borer is actively at work. Pains came just rigid for all growing crops. Hay is being secured in good condition, though a little late for want of help. ,S. B. Cook. Shrewsbury. — Corn ten days late. Hay most all in in good shape. Top of the ground is dry and needs rain or rowen will be short. Oats are grown only for fodder. E. A. Bartlett. Southborough. — Very cool weather, especially at night, will injure the corn crop if continuous. Potato beetles very numerous. Apples very small for August 1. C. L. Fairbanks. 15 Sterling. — The hay crop is nearly harvested, except some meadow land, and secured in excellent condition. The prospect is i for a large crop of rowen. Corn is growing finely. II. S. Sawyer. Sutton. — The price of berries has been very high this year as all the small fruits and berries are (and have been) very scarce. Corn in our vicinity is very late, and considering how much cool weather we have had, is looking fair, but not up to the average at this time of the year. Oats are being largely cut for fodder but are not up to the average. A. W. Putnam. Templeton. — So far the season has been rather cool, better for grass, grain and potatoes, than for corn, vines and beans. Corn is ten days late although it has gained ten points over its condition July 1. English having nearly finished, quantity above the average, quality extra. No drouth. Lucien Gove. Westborough. — Some of the crops in this section have been very much hurt by drouth. It lias made pasturage very poor so that farmers have commenced to feed in the barn. The hay crop was not as heavy as was first thought. H. A. Fairbanks. Worcester.'- — Abundant rains in April, May and June caused a good hay crop, while cold winds in July injured the corn crop. S. A. 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Returned to the Office of the State Board of Agricul- ture, Sept. 1, 1888. Office State Boakd of Agriculture, Boston, Mass., Sept. 4, 1888. General Remarks. Our third bulletin is sent out with the feeling that it is wanted. So many requests for copies have been received since our last issue that we have been forced to order an extra number of copies of this bulletin printed. The num- ber of our correspondents has also increased. A new cir- cular will be prepared to be sent to correspondents for the next report. Copies of this bulletin will be mailed free upon application to this office. The Weather. The season still continues a remarkably cool one, although no frosts, save a slight one in Goshen, which did little or no harm, have been reported. Much rain fell during the month, but on the whole proving more beneficial than inju- rious. New Bedford and vicinity was visited on the 27th by a very severe thunder-shower accompanied by large hail- stones. In its track much damage was done to corn and grain, and many trees were prostrated. Should frosts hold oil* two weeks longer, the Massachusetts farmer will have little cause to complain of the season of 1888. Berkshire County. ( Jorn is looking well, though some ten days late. Pastures are holding out well. Some rot in early potatoes, but no complaint of any in late. Bristol County. Corn somewhat affected by heavy blows. Rowen and pastures good. Apples not very plenty. Essex County. Corn is suffering from cool weather and is two weeks late. The apple crop will be fair. Potatoes are about an average. Franklin County. All crops late, but looking well. Corn needs at least ten days of warm weather. Pastures and rowen good. Tobacco full average growth and good quality. Potatoes good. Apples promise a good yield. Hampden County. Tobacco good. All crops late. Considerable complaint of potatoes rotting. Rowen good. The stand of corn is good, but it is quite late. Hampshire County. Corn is of £ood growth, but from one to two weeks late. Pastures are looking well. Potatoes of good growth and quality. The tobacco crop is a good one and the harvesting of it commenced about August 20th. Rowen very good. Middlesex County. Corn looks well, but is late. Potatoes are of good qual- ity and yield. Apples will be an average crop. Pasture and rowen fair. Grapes are reported as rotting badly in ( Joncord. Nantucket County. Potatoes extra in quality and quantity. Corn fair but late. Heavy crop of oats. Very cool weather. Norfolk County. Crop prospects are belter than in 1 lie last report. Corn is late, but looking well. PLYMOl III ( !0UNT1 . Corn is quite late and needs warm weather. Potatoes are looking and yielding well. Some complaint of ro1 in late potatoes. Pastmcs are in good condition. Recent heavy rains greatly helped rowen. Worcester County. Corn from one to two weeks late, owing to cool weather. Apples small, but smooth and sound; the yield will bean average one. Potatoes generally a fair yield and good qual- ity; very little rot reported. Pastures generally excellent. Rowen good, though light in some towns. NOTES OF CORRESPONDENTS. BERKSHIRE COUNTY. Dalton. — Corn backward ten days. Pastures are holding out well. Barley, none in town. H. A. Barton, Jr. Hinsdale. — All crops are late on account of rainy spring. Oats, barley and buckwheat have a large growth, and yield heavy. Hay is extra good. Tnos. F. Barker. Great Harrington. — Indian corn is a full average crop, except that it is some ten days late. If the warm, dry weather now pre- vailing continues for two weeks, a good crop will be assured. M. I. Wheeler. South Egremont. — We are having plenty of rain. Pastures excellent ; rowen good. Some complain of rot in early planted potatoes, but none in late, which are doing well. Oats and straw somewhat bleached in harvesting, but a good crop in this vicinity. C. B. Benedict. South Williamstbvm. — Corn late, but doing well, and is of medium growth. Early potatoes are light, while late ones promise fairly well. No rot as yet. Copious rain August o\ . Weather cool. Pastures good. S. A. IIlCKOX. BRISTOL COUNTY. North Dartmouth. — Corn has been affected by heavy Mows that will make it lighter than it would have been. Apples are very scarce in this section. Rowen is quite short, but is thick, and if we have a warm September will be quite good. L. T. Davis. North Raynham. — The remarkably wet weather lias increased the crop of rowen and pasture beyond what was expected early in the year. It is also noticeable that insects of various kinds arc destroying the foliage of trees more than usual this year. N. W. Shaw. ESSEX COUNTY. Georgetown. — Our cornfields are looking well, but will need about two weeks of red-hot weather to insure an average crop. Potatoes were badly blighted the first week in August in some localities, but the crop will be nearly an average one. Our onion fields are not looking as well as last year, but as there is an increased acreage under cultivation we shall secure an average crop on the whole. O. S. Butler. Haverhill. — All crops are looking well. Barley, oats and rye are raised only for fodder. G. F. S. Webster. Marblehead. — The second crop of hay will be abundant, and the present indications for an apple crop are good. W. S. Phillips, Jr. Went Newbwry. — We want a warm month to bring corn and onions to maturit}7. We are having lots of rain and cool weather. Oscar Gowen. West Newbury. — Corn is suffering from the effects of cool weather, especialty nights. The stover is large enough, but the ears are very short. The potato crop seems varied. Some pieces are extra good in size and quality, while other pieces produce a small crop and are very scabby. Squashes are looking well, with less fruit than usual. Apples in our vicinity less than an average crop, with size and quality fully an average for the date. I. N. Lam.. FRANKLIN COUNTY. Ashfield. — Weather cool. Corn still backward. Apples prom- ise well. Chauncey Boice. 8 Buckland. — The unprecedented cold weather has caused a late- ness in all crops. The prospect for corn is not good ; although of fair growth, it is backward, and we doubt if the crop will fully mature. Pastures hold out well ; rowen late, but about an aver- age. Apples plenty, especially Baldwins. F. Forbes. Deerfield. — Rowen is light, quality good. Pastures in average condition. Tobacco, growth full average, quality good. Early potatoes were good, late ones have blasted some ; yield small and quality fair. Corn, good growth; ten days late, but improving rapidly. Onions good, but a little late ; tops inclined to hold green. Charles Jones. East Charlemont. — Corn is looking well, but is very backward and needs considerable warm weather to mature it. Early pota- toes are dug and produced a good crop. Late potatoes are looking well. Tobacco crop is the best ever raised in town. Apples are very sound and promise quite a good crop. The ground is in nice condition for growing crops at the present time. H. S. Giles. Leyden. — Corn, though a little backward, promises a good crop if not frost-bitten. Pasture is generally quite above the average at this season. The vines of early potatoes in some instances blasted, and occasionally a piece has re-set. The tubers are mostl}T of excellent quality. Apples are fairer than usual, and quite abundant in this town. Jonathan Budington . Monroe. — The cool nights continue to affect growing crops unfavorably, especially corn, the thermometer registering as low as 42, and for the 3d of August 50 and below. The mean for the month was 62.39. The hottest da}' of summer was August 5; at 1 p.m., and the mean 7;"J. Rainfall 7| inches, including two inches the night of the 31st, Wm. H. Allen. New Salem. — In this vicinity the rowen crop is somewhat above the average. Pastures are in fair condition. Corn backward, otherwise looking well. Potatoes and garden vegetables a fair average. A good but not heavy crop of apples. Daniel Ballakd. 9 Sunderland. — Crops of all kinds are looking well, but will be late. Farmers are getting in their tobacco and the crop is good. Some have begun harvesting onions ; shall have a fair crop. M. H. Clark. South Deerfield. — The tobacco crop is nearly all harvested and appears the finest ever grown. The growth was very large and healthy, also sound and free from holes and other imperfections. W. TV. Sanderson. HAMPDEN COUNTY. Agawam. — Farmers are very busy now. Those that have tobacco are cutting some. They report it very good, but some late set not as good as usual. Early corn is ready to cut ; some are cutting. Some complain that it is not filled out very well. Some are digging potatoes and complain of rot. The best yields are spotted with rot. E. L. Thompson. Brimfield. — Grass is better than usual, having had good rains. Corn backward ; big growth of fodder, but poor earing and much smut. Potatoes show no signs of rot yet. Apples falling off badly. S. TV. Brown. Blandford. — Cool weather makes all crops late, especially corn. The stand is good and well eared. Potatoes that have promised well are generally a light yield ; some pieces have blighted, and there is quite a good deal of complaint of rot. Pastures are dry. E. TV. Boise. Hampden. — Potatoes having abundant tops have withstood the ravages of the bugs better than usual ; have even borne neglect without harm. J. N. Isham. East Longmeadoiv. — August came in cloudy, and little was done in gathering crops. Corn is now watched with much anxiety. Some fields not fully tasselled up to the 14th ; since then it has done well. If no mishap appears to injure the tubers, a fair yield will result. E., H. TVheelock. 10 West Springfield. — Potatoes are rotting some, but the yield is large, selling at forty or fifty cents per bushel. Turnips are a partial failure. Cabbages abundant and very cheap. The rowen now being cut is generous. Sweet-corn was never better ; one farmer here reports thirteen thousand ears of Early Minnesota to the acre. J. N. Bagg. WilbraJiam. — Corn has improved very rapidly the past month, and with fifteen days of warm weather in September will be nearly an average crop. Crops are generally good. There has been an abundance of rain since March. H. M. Bliss. Wilbraham. — If frosts hold off until September 20, we may get an average crop of corn. There must be an unusual amount of soft corn if we have early frosts. Potatoes and rowen are turning out well. Apples are plenty on the mountain, but none on the plain. F. E. Clark. HAMPSHIRE COUNTY. Belchertown. — Corn, owing to the favorable conditions of the weather for the last month, has made rapid progress and is nearly up to the average of past years ; a full average crop may safely be looked for. Pastures hold out remarkably, and rowen is far above average years. II. C. West. Goshen. — Corn is of good growth, but two weeks late. Pas- tures looking well. Potatoes of good growth and of excellent quality ; no rust has yet appeared. Beans late and uneven ; many pole varieties refuse to climb. Apples promise well. With few exceptions, gardens are backward. There has been a slight frost on low grounds ; little or no damage. Alvan Barrus. Plainfield. — Corn I rate at 100. For growth, it is ten days late, and if the weather continues cold it may get frosted. S. W. Clark. 11 Southampton. — Corn backward about two weeks ; if frost holds off, it will be a fair average. Early potatoes extra ; the tops on many pieces of late potatoes are dead, and appear to be blasted. Apples not as large as some years, but very fair. Tobacco even and very heavy. C. B. Lyman. South Hadley. — Corn one to two weeks late; good growth of stalks, but not eared quite up to the average. Rowen not as good as last year, but average. Only one piece of tobacco in town ; that 75. H. W. Gaylord. Ware. — The rowen crop does not promise the yield it did last year at date, though it is looking well. Apples not quite up to last year, though a fair crop in the hill towns. Potatoes a good yield and of good quality. Corn is doing well ; if the frost holds off two weeks, there will be a fair yield. F. W. Hakwood. MIDDLESEX COUNTY. Ashland. — Apples will be a short crop. Corn is two weeks late. Grapes are short. C. E. Adams. Concord. — Grapes are rotting badly; in many vineyards they will not be worth picking. Corn is not filling out well, though the fodder will be heavy. Potatoes, early crop on sod land was small ; on old land was better. Late crop good and of extra quality. F. G. Pratt. Dunstable. — Corn looks well, but a little late. Should frost hold off a few days longer there will be an average crop. Peaches will not be as good as they promised earlier. Pastures are looking well. Dexter Butterfield. Hudson. — Apples, where the hail storm did not pass, look well. The weather is all right for a heavy crop of Baldwin and Porter varieties. Grapes show a light crop compared with last year. G. A. COTTING. 12 Marlborough. — Crops of all kinds are doing well, though back- ward. Apples, a fair crop. Pears few. Corn looking well and growing fast. Potatoes, quality first rate ; quantity fair. W. H. Felton. Sherborn. — Early potatoes are very good. Some fields of late ones have blasted, but I think there will be an average crop. The Mountain Rose peaches are about two weeks late. The Early Crawfords are just commencing to turn. Last year at this date the Mountain Rose were all gone and the Early Crawfords were just in their prime. F. T. Daniels. Sotith Sudbury. — The abundant and copious rainfall during August has greatly improved the condition of crops. Pastures are short of feed by reason of the July drought, and the ciop of rowen will be below the average, except in newly seeded fields, where the crop is heavy. Apples will be an average crop. H. N. Smith. Stow. — Corn is nearly ready to shook. Late potatoes, I think, will be better than was thought a month ago. We have had plenty of rain and cool weather. No frost yet. A. M. Coding. Wilmington. — The season continues favorable, although corn is late in maturing. Potatoes a good yield and extra in quality. The cultivation of cranberries is a growing industry in this town and bids fair to be a paying one. No appearance of frost yet. Pastures better than usual at this season of the year. C. W. Swain. NANTUCKET COUNTY. Nantucket. — Potatoes are extra in quality and quantity. Potato bugs not as plenty as in the past. Corn looking fair, but needs more hot weather. Oats are all cut for fodder. The crop was very heavy. Hay crop not as good as expected. Very cool weather for the month. C. W. Gardner. 13 NORFOLK COUNTY. Dover. — Corn still continues backward; I should say two weeks late. We are having very cool weather just now. A heavy frost would spoil the corn. Ebkn Higgins. Franklin. — Crop prospects are better than a month ago. N. E. Newell. Randolph. — Indian corn is raised mostly for fodder. Crop good, but somewhat lodged by recent heavy rains. Field corn about two weeks late. Hungarian grass now being harvested and is a full average crop. R. A. Thayer. PL Y M OUTH COUNTY . Halifax. — Warm weather for a week or two longer will give us a good corn yield. There is the largest crop of potatoes in town that I ever saw. Rowen does not look as well as last year. GL W. Hayward. Hanson. — Recent heavy rains have greatly helped rowen, but will not bring it up to the average. Pastures are now in fine con- dition. A poor showing for apples. Farmers report that manure spread on last fall did not seem to help the hay crop as it should have. Flavel S. Thomas, M.l). Hingham. — Corn is nearly two weeks late, and if it gets ripe will be ten per cent, below an average. Late potatoes look well, but there is some complaint of rot. Pastures have kept green most of the summer. Edmund Hersey. Marshfield. — There is only one " striking fact" in this locality. The crops on the reclaimed marshes are exceptionally good. Without special fertilizers, large crops of potatoes are grown this season. Geo. J. Peterson. 14 Wareham. — The season is at least two weeks backward, and the summer has been unusually cold, particularly the nights. Have suffered less from drought than usual, so that vegetation looks well, but an early frost would be very disastrous. The berry worm is doing some injury to cranberries. A. Kavaky. WORCESTER COUNTY. Berlin. — Many fields of corn are very late, and unless Septem- ber is a remarkable month will not ripen. Indications of blight on some fields of potatoes, but most fields look finely. Baldwin apples are small but fair. P. B. Southwick. Bolton. — All crops are pushing ahead vigorously. But little corn will mature in this vicinity before October 1st. Fall feed and rowen are growing rapidly M The potato crop will be light. No rot yet. (J rapes are in poor condition. Beaches are a light crop. Pastures never looked better than now. H. F. Haynes. Bolton. — Corn continues very backward, and unless we have a warm September the crop of sound corn will be light. Those who have silos are all right, as there is plenty of fodder. Apples are very smooth and sound. Marshall Wai.cott. Dudley. — If Jack Frost will but keep out of the town until after the 20th all our corn can be harvested in good condition and be fully up to an average. J. J. Gilles. / East Blackstone. — Early varieties of potatoes, planted lab'. were injured by dry weather in -Inly, but laic ones are looking better than usual. Corn is looking we'll, but about a week late. L. R. Daniels. Hard/rick. — Corn is improving, but is still late. Potatoes, quality and yield good. Apples looking well, but small. Rowen rusted and generally light. G. Mama. 15 Holden. — Season still cold and lato. Corn needs three weeks more of warm weather. Kven early grapes have not begun to ripen yet. Cx. S. Graham. Holden. — Owing to cool days and nights corn is at least two weeks behind. It is now only fairly developed in kernel when it should be glazed. It is looking finely, and in absence of early frosts we shall have a good crop, being next to hay our most valuable one. Frequent rains have kept the ground in good con- dition. Apples are good. Ciias. E. Parker. Lunenburg. — The rainfall throughout the season has been suffi- cient for all crops, so that the pastures are in good condition and cattle have done well. Of course rowen is good. James Hildretii, 2d. Mendon. — The month of August has been on the whole fine for the farmer. Thus far we have escaped frost. Farmers have im- proved the fine weather in gathering their crop of Hungarian, and it never was in better shape. H. C. Adams. Northborough. — Vegetation of all kinds has revived with the rains of August. The stand of Indian corn is good, but needs all of two weeks' warm weather yet in order to mature. Winter apples promise well both in quality and quantity. J. L. Allen. . North Broohfield. — Corn is about ten days later than usual. It has grown very rapidly for tin1 last two weeks, and is in a fair way to be out of the way of frost in about three weeks. All crops have made rapid progress towards maturity during the past two weeks. L. E. Barnes. North Grafton. — .-Corn was late up to August 1st; since then rains and warm weather have hastened the growth, so that now the crop is about up to the average. M. L. Rice. 16 Oakham. — The rowen crop has improved during the past month. Potatoes have held their own, and corn is looking well at date. Grain is all harvested and a fair crop is reported. Pota- toes are not yielding as well as some years, but are not rotting to any extent. W. M. Robinson. Paxton. — Corn has come rapidly forward the past two weeks, and if not caught by an early frost will be a good crop. Pastures are holding out nicely. Late potatoes promise well, with no sign of rot yet. H. H. Sikk. Petersham. — Condition of apples has improved during the last month. We are much in want of rain, and the weather is very cool for the season. Rowen and pasturing are affected by the drought, as are also late potatoes. The cool weather retards the maturing corn. S. P>. Cook. Rdyalston. — Potato bugs have been very troublesome; have spoiled some pieces. A. J. Raymond. Shrewsbury. — All things considered corn is doing well. There is a large amount of ensilage corn raised here. It looks very well, although rain and wind the 18th and 14th broke it down one- fourth in some places. Some pieces of early potatoes hardly paid their cost, while others were good. Late potatoes look well. E. A. Baiitlett. Sterling. — The weather has been unfavorable for ripening corn and the crop will be light. There will be a good crop of apples in this section. Many of the farmers are digging their potatoes and they are yielding fairly and are of good quality. H. S. Sawyer. Sutton. — Barley and buckwheat are but little raised in our vicinity. Celeiy but little raised. Peaches about a failure. Grapes were much injured by the winter. Apple-trees are loaded so that their branches lie upon the ground. A. W. Putnam. 17 Templeton. — The first half of August was very favorable for corn and pushed it right along, yet it is nearly two weeks late. Potatoes are extra, and promise a heavy yield unless affected willi rot. Apples are very fair, but late. Rather a light crop of beans. Pears about one-half an average. Lucien (Jove. Webster. — Pastures have improved since the heavy rains. 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(B C Si* 2 os a> "C 30 ., •> ~ p^, — i 1 | | 1 15 "_ — CO CO CD O O =4H . .2 i as — 3 5 3 S Cj — ' o s o & o CU - c a Bulletin No. 4. MASSACHUSETTS CEOP EEPOET MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, 1888, THE CONDITION, YIELD AND PRICES RECEIVED FOR CROPS THE FIRST OF OCTOBER, AND OTHER MATTERS RELATING TO AGRICULTURE. COMPILED BY WM. R. SESSIONS, Secretary Board of Agriculture. BOSTON: Wright & Potter Printing Company, State Printers, 18 Post Office Square. 1888. CROP REPORT FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, 1888. Returned to the Office of the State Board of Agricul- ture, Oct. 1, 1888. Office State Board of Agriculture, Boston, Mass., Oct. 3, 1888. ► General Remarks. In sending out our fourth bulletin, we regret that we cannot make a better showing for the farmers of the Com- monwealth. A month ago the outlook was very favorable, but the early frosts, followed by almost continuous wet weather, have played sad havoc with our crops. We hope that a better showing can be made next month. Copies of this bulletin will be mailed free upon application. The Weather. September can be truly called a wet and cold month. Severe frosts occurred over nearly the entire State on the 6th and 7th, seriously injuring the unripe corn and other produce. Much rain fell during the month. A severe gale prevailed in the eastern portion on the 26th and did much damage to the apple crop. The rainfall during the last week was above the average, and was followed the 29th and 30th by severe frosts. Light snow was reported in Orange on the 30th, and ice one-fourth inch in thickness in Spencer. Barnstable Couxty. Much fruit was blown off by the gale of September 26. Wet weather has delayed the harvesting of cranberries. Frosts have damaged the cranberry bogs not flooded with water. In some sections the loss is quite large. Berkshire County. Much rain and severe frosts have damaged all crops. Potatoes are rotting some ; the yield is good and quality fair. Field corn and stover are badly injured, and in some localities nearly ruined. Bristol County. Continued wet weather has delayed the harvesting of all crops. Rowen has been badly hurt. Corn and stover injured by frost. Late potatoes are rotting some. Dukes County. * Quality of the corn crop excellent, excepting that it is very green. Essex County. The gale of the 26th did much damage to. fruit. In Mar- blehead ninety per cent of the fall apples reported blown oil'. Wet weather is doing as much damage as frosts. In West Newbury peaches are the best for five years. Corn and rowen have suffered' much. Franklin County. The early frosts were very disastrous to all unharvested crops. Potatoes yield well and are of good quality. Xo complaints of rot. The onion crop is good. Hampden County. Corn and stover very generally injured by the frosts of September 6 and 7, especially on low lands. There is general complaint of rot in potatoes. In most places the quality is good and the yield fair. Pastures are looking well, owing to the abundance of rain. In Blandford apples arc a full crop, very fair and of extra quality. Hampshire County. Corn and stover very generally injured by the frosts of the 6th, 7th and 30th. Potatoes of good quality, though there is considerable complaint of rot. Rowen a large1 crop, but much injured by wel weather in harvesting. Apples fair, but the crop will not be very large. Onions good. Tobacco harvested in good condition and bringing a good price. Plenty of rain during the past month. Middlesex County. The severe earl}' frosts did much damage to crops. Corn and stover badly injured. Potatoes are rotting some. Cranberry crop nearly ruined. Quality of rowen much injured by wet weather. Norfolk County. Corn and stover greatly damaged by frost. Potatoes are rotting on low lands. Owing to continued wet weather rowen is not up to an average in quality. Many cranberries are under water and some damage was done to them by frost. Plymouth County. Considerable damage done to corn stover by the frosts of September 6 and 7, and by the gale of September 26. Potatoes on low ground are reported as rotting badly. Owing to frequent rains, rowen is greatly damaged, and the harvesting of all crops greatly delayed. Worcester County. Corn and stover very generally injured by frosts and wet weather. Rowen fair, but injured in gathering. Potatoes of good quality and yield. Considerable complaint of rot. Cranberries almost a total failure. Apples an average crop. and generally of good quality, though small in size. NOTES OF CORRESPONDENTS. BARNSTABLE COUNTY. East Dennis. — Wet weather has interfered with the harvesting of the cranberry crop and but a small portion has been gathered. There has also been some damage from frost. Indications are that the crop will be considerably less than last year. Joshua Crowell. East Sandwich. — The gale of the 26th blew corn down badly and blew off most of the fruit. The uncommonly wet fall has delayed harvesting, especially of cranberries, which have already been frosted some on dry bogs. J. R. Holway. BERKSHIRE COUNTY. Becket. — Corn and rowen much damaged by frost and wet weather. W. H. Snow. Dalton. — Frequent rains. The springs and streams are full. The two early frosts in September injured the corn crop badly. H. A. Barton, Jr. Hinsdale. — Much rain has damaged the crops of beans and rowen. Potatoes are rotting after they are in the cellar. Cab- bages are extra good, and are worth but five or six cents per head. T. F. Barker. Savoy Centre. — The heavy frosts of the 6th and 7th of Sep- tember caused great damage to many crops, especially corn, both field and fodder. Field corn is a failure. Some are digging potatoes, and they come out fairly and free from rot. Turnips are looking finely. Apples are quite abundant. On account of the July drought there is very little rowen. Some pieces of late Hun- garian were badly seared by the frosts. W. W. BUKNETT. South Williamstown. — Corn good growth, but the early frost 'killed forty per cent of the crop here. Potatoes fair yield, and quality never better. The quality of ensilage gathered before the frost is good. S. A. Hickox. BRISTOL COUNTY. JSforth Dartmouth. — The last two weeks have been very unfav- orable for gathering rowen. Very heavy storms the past week, which twisted corn badly and broke it down. Have had hard frost, that damaged corn some and stover more. L. T. Davis. North Raynham. — The continued rainy weather has been very detrimental to all crops. There has been no time to make rowen, and fodder corn has been delayed in cutting until spoiled by frost. Grapes were entirely ruined by the frost of September 30. N. W. Shaw. Swansea. — September very wet. Rowen put in in bad condi- tion. Early potatoes sound, late varieties rotting. First frost of any account this morning, September 29. J. E. Eastabrooks. DUKES COUNTY. Chilmark. — The quality of the corn crop is excellent, except- ing that it is very green and there is danger that a heavy frost may injure it. B. T. HlLLMAN. ESSEX COUNTY. Georgetown. — The long term of wet weather of the past two weeks is doing as much damage to our crops as the early frosts. Most of our rowen was cut and is spoiled. It is not worth hauling to the barn. Everything needs warm, dry weather or the loss will be very great. O. S. Butler. Haverhill. — The season has been very backward, although growiug crops looked well, and doubtless would have done well, had the warm weather reached us which " Old Prob." promised for this month. But instead we had an early frost, followed by nearly two weeks of rain, and then another heavy frost. G. F. S. Webster. 8 fyswieh. — Frost has injured the corn and ensilage thirty per cent. Heavy rains and cloudy weather during the last fortnight have about ruined the crop of rowen, but have kept the pastures in line growing condition. O. C. Smith. Marblehead. — The gale of the 26th proved disastrous to the apple crop ; ninety per cent, of the fall fruit was stripped from the trees. The winter varieties seemed to hold on better. Continued bad weather also shows its effects on other crops. W. S. Phillips. West Newbury. — Corn has suffered from the cold' weather and is certainly two weeks late. Squash vines are still in bloom, and squashes are green and late. The wet weather from the 16th to the 24th has been detrimental to the ripening of crops. The severe storm of the 26th did much damage to the fruit crop. Peaches are the best for five years. I. N. Lane. FRANKLIN COUNTY. BucMand. — Early frosts injured corn fully twenty-five per cent and ensilage as much. Potatoes are smooth, free from rot, yield well and are of excellent quality. Apples are more than an aver- age. Owing to frequent rains pastures are unusually good. F. Forbes. East Charlemont. — This season has been quite unfavorable for producing a good corn crop. The early frosts did considerable damage to corn in some localities. We have had cool, wet weather since. The thermometer was down to 30 the morning of the 30th. H. S. Giles. North Orange. — The great frost of September 6 damaged the corn very seriously, and some fields were nearly ruined. Potatoes show a good yield and are of excellent quality. Apples are a small crop ; are of small size, but very fair. Vegetables are gener- ally good where not injured by frost. Ansel Harrington. South Ash field. — Cold and wet. Heavy frosts early in Sep- tember. Better crops than would seem possible under such unfavorable circumstances. (II MM r.v Boice. 9 Sunderland. — Fanners have harvested their tobacco In good condition. Corn is all cut, without much damage from frost. Onions will occupy the attention of farmers the coming month. The crop is good and will yield from 100 to 600 bushels pel' acre. M. II. Clark. HAMPDEN COUNTY. Blandford. — The early frost injured corn in this vicinity, though some on high ground escaped. Stover not worth one-half. Pota- toes are not proving near an average crop. Some rotting, others a light yield. Apples are a full crop and very fair and of extra quality. Most of the surplus has been bought up at one dollar per barrel, the purchaser furnishing the barrels. E. W. Boise. Brimfield. — Corn hurt by frost September 7. Stover almost spoiled on low lands. Had to cut up two weeks before it was ready. The rains keep it from ripening ; begins to mildew. Pota- toes, some lots have considerable rot, but most lots clear. Quality, No. 1. S. W. Brown. East Longmeadow. — September was a hard month for some of us. The frost of the 6th and 7th did its work on low lauds. Pota- toes not all dug yet. Some report a good yield, others not. Have not heard of any rot or scabby potatoes. E. II. Wheelock. West Springfield. — Stover somewhat frosted. Potatoes rotting some. The weather of September was wet and cold. No corn husked except for hominy or exhibition. Farmers are ploughing for rye and grass seeding. J. N. Bagg. Wilbraliam. — The frost of September 6 and 7 injured sev- eral fields of corn, while others escaped unharmed. Some of our farmers are suffering severely from potato rot. Pastures are looking finely on account of abundance of rain. II. M. Bliss. 10 HAMPSHIRE COUNTY. Amherst. — The early frost injured corn and stover very badly, and continued wet weather has caused potatoes to rot some. E. T. Sabin. Belchertown. — The severe frost of September 7 gave our prom- ising corn crop a decided set back, and nearly ruined the stover on many pieces. The recent heavy rains have made it hard to get rowen. Potatoes are rotting badly, and there will be 'a small yield in many places where a large one was predicted three weeks ago. H. C. West. Cummington. — Corn stood, September 6, 100 or more, but the frost reduced its value fully 30 per cent. Rowen was badly frosted, and the unsettled weather since has reduced its value 20 per cent. Cranberries all frosted. Beans very few and all frosted. S. W. Clark. Goshen. — Early frosts were nearly fatal to corn, beans, pumpkins, squashes, cranberries and grapes in exposed localities. A. Bakrus. Hatjield. — Indian corn is late two weeks, and the weather has been unfavorable for curing. The rowen crop is good, but poor weather to get it. Tobacco looks the best now for a number of years. Late potatoes are decaying some. Onions are being har- vested ; are good, and are nearly all sold at fifty cents per bushel. J. D. Porter. North Amherst. — Apples are scarce. The "heavy frost of September 6 did considerable damage to corn ; on many pieces the leaves turned white. But little rot in potatoes here. Abun- dant rains have kept pasture and new seeding in excellent growth. Potatoes are selling at fifty cents per bushel. II. A. Parsons. 11 North Hadley. — Corn has made a good growth, but owing to cold, wet weather has ripened very slowly. The frost September .7 did very little damage, tobacco being nearly all harvested before that date. A heavy frost September 30 destroyed everything left out in the cold. Owing to frequent rains, rowen is being gathered slowly and in ordinary condition. Northampton. — Cold, wet, cloudy. H. C. Russell. C. H. Gere. Southampton. — Some corn stover was damaged by the early frosts. The heavy frost September 30. finished what was left. Tobacco all harvested in good condition, and entire crop sold for from 14 to 20 cents per pound. Potatoes are being dug and are excellent in quality. Some rot. Good crop of apples ; quality excellent. C. B. Lyman. South Hadley Falls. — Corn, good growth of stalks, but not eared up to average. Fair growth of rowen, but not all cut, on account of so much rain. Potatoes above the average in quality, but rotting some on low ground. New seeding looks finely, but some pieces are badly washed by the heavy rains. H. W. Gaylord. Ware. — The frost of September 7 greatly damaged growing crops. Corn was injured more than any of the other crops, the stover being made almost worthless for fodder. Potatoes rot on some pieces, but promise a fair yield and good quality. Rowen, though late and injured by wet weather, will average with last year's crop. F. W. Harwood. MIDDLESEX COUNTY. Ashby. — Grapes badly frosted and almost a failure. Apples small, but very fair. C. F. Hayward. Ashland. — The frost of September 6 and 7 hurt corn in this vicinity very much. Potatoes are rotting some. Apples are good in quantity, but are small in size. C. E. Adams. 12 Concord. — The frost of .September 6 destroyed most of the cranberries in town, but some lots on the river meadows were saved by the fog. It has been a hard month for rowen ; so much rain. Fall seeding was never better. F. G. Pratt. Dunstable. — The severe frost of September 7 spoiled the cran- berry crop, and injured the corn crop fifty per cent or more, and the stover is hardly worth harvesting. The quality of the rowen was very much injured by the frost, and the excessive fall of rain has injured the crop very much. Potatoes are rotting some. Dexter Butterfield. South Sudbury. — The early frosts did much damage to all ten- der crops, and to vine crops generally. Added to the frosts, the extremely wet weather has greatly injured corn fodder, and has reduced its feeding value more than one-half. Potatoes are rot- ting badly. The rainfall has been the heaviest for years. H. N. Smith. Stow. — Corn badly damaged by the early frost. Potatoes slightly affected with rot. Beans nearly vnined by the wet weather. Apples, good crop and of average quality. Pastures never looked better. Work behind and help scarce. A. M. Goding. Wilmington. — The heavy frosts of September G and 7 nearly ruined the cranberry crop in the meadows, and of the cul- tivated nearly one-half. The corn crop was badly damaged, and of all crops it is impossible to estimate the damage. C. W. Swain. NORFOLK COUNTY. Dover. — The frost damaged the stover to a great extent, but most of the corn seems to be hardening well. The weather has been good for pastures and new seeding. Many of the apple-trees seem to have changed their bearing year, although some orchards are full. Kr.KN HlGGINS. 13 Millis. — Cranberries are covered with water; about half gath- ered. Indian corn, owing to early frost and wet weather, is in a doubtful condition. Louis LaCroix. Randolph. — The large rainfall during the past month has been very unfavorable for all crops. A considerable portion of the rowen crop has been harvested in a damaged condition. Potatoes on low lands are badly diseased, and fodder and ensilage corn show the effect of earl}' frosts. R. A. Thayer. Wellesley. — The severe frost of September 7 greatly injured corn, Concord grapes and rowen. The frost was immediately fol- lowed by a long rain storm, and this in turn by a frost. The storms and frosts of last month have nearly spoiled the corn crop, both grain and stover. II . J. Stevens. PLYMOUTH COUNTY. Cochesett. — Much damage to corn stover and other crops by the frost of September 6. The rowen crop is larger than usual. Potatoes in low lands have rotted badly, also wrhere planted late, caused by blight. This is our off year on apples. C. T. Williams. East Wareham. — The cold weather and storms have greatly delayed harvesting. The severe frost early in the month did less damage near the shore than inland. Grapes are a failure. A. Savary. Halifax. — The frost of the 7th did great damage to our corn, and about spoiled the fodder. The rains hindered the stooking of it until it will not pay for the trouble. Rowen is nearly a failure, as those wdio had it grown spoiled it in trying to secure it. G. AY. II AY WARD. Hanson. — Potatoes are rotting badly; some have lost their entire crop. We have had a long, cold storm, lasting over a wick, which delayed harvesting, but as yet cannot see that it has done other harm to crops. Dr. F. S. Thomas. 14 MarsJifiekl. — The morning of the 26th of September, 8 a.m., blowing a severe gale, with rain ; apples mostly lying on the ground, and corn uncut lying flat, considerable damage to late crops. 2 p. m., the sun shining and the gale abated. In this vicinity the crops are not damaged by frosts. September 30, no frosts and warmer. G. J. Peterson. WORCESTER COUNTY. Berlin. — Corn was badly injured by the frosts of September 6 and 7. Grapes almost a failure. Apples are very good. The heavy rains and winds took many from the trees. In size they are rather below the average. Potatoes yield fairly well, but there is some complaint of rot. P. B. SOUTHWICK. Bolton. — The severe frosts of September 6 and 7 injured the corn crop and ensilage. Onions a fair crop, but very bad weather to dry them off. Cranberries are almost a total failure. Apples are very fair, but small. Marshall Walcott. Dudley. — About 15 per cent of the corn crop was injured by the frost of the 6th. In most cases only the stover suffered. J. J. Gilles. East Blackstone. — At sunrise, September 7, the thermometer here stood at 27, and late corn, ensilage, grapes, squash and other vines were badly damaged. Potatoes have yielded remarkably, and are of the best quality. L. P. Daniels. East Templeton. — September was very unfavorable for matur- ing and harvesting crops. The 6th and 7th we had heavy frosts, which checked the growth, followed by excessive rains, retarding farm operations and injuring the quality of rowen and potatoes. The 29th and 30th severe frosts froze apples on the trees. Lucien Gove. 15 Gardner. — Continued wet weather has retarded the ripening of the corn crop, and has caused undug potatoes to rot badly. The first frost to do damage was on September 30. W. E. Knight. Hardwick. — Corn on lowlands injured by frost, also stover. Potatoes mostly dug and show a good yield. Some rot. Pas- tures are in good condition. Apples — quality, fine. George Manly. Holden. — What we feared has come upon us. The frosts of September 6 and 7 caught the corn on low lauds too soft, and the result in many cases a total loss, while on high and sheltered locations no damage from frost until the 30th. A cold, wet, north- east storm of about ten days, winding up, the 26th, with a hurricane, dela}Ted harvesting of all crops. Fruit suffered severely from high winds. The seeming conspiracy of the elements, in many respects, against the farmers' interests is discouraging. Adding taxes, — town, county, state, and national tariff tax, — the burden is too great. C. E. Parker. Holden. — Very cold and wet. Corn very much injured by the frost of September 7, and the stover nearly spoiled by the frosts and heavy rains. Very few grapes have ripened. Apples are very plenty ; are small, but fair. G. S. Graham. Lunenburg. — Early frosts injured some crops very much, espe- cially corn and cranberries, and in many places beans and grapes. Grapes do not ripen well even in good locations. Apples are very fair, but not as large as usual. Cranberries almost a total failure. James Hildreth, 2d. Nortliborough. — Farmers are busily engaged in gathering the apple crop. Much of the fruit is wormy and unfit for market. Only a small part of the grape crop is likely to mature, on account of the heavy frosts. Have had very little weather suitable for cutting and curing rowen. J. L. Allen. 10 North Broolcfield. — Corn is late, and some fields are not cut yet. We have bad no frosts till within the last three days. This is a dairy section and no attention is given to special crops. Apples are not picked yet. Very wet weather for the past two weeks. A. C. Stoddard. North Grafton. — Potatoes are rotting badly. Heavy frosts have killed grapes and cranberries. M. L. Rice. Oakham. — The corn crop was badly injured by the early frosts, especially on low lands. Potatoes are fair, with no rot. There is a large crop of apples, with no market for the fall varieties, and no price is yet set for the winter fruit. The heavy rains we have had the last of the month are bad for curing rowen and corn stover. Locusts are plenty in mowings and pastures. W. M. Robinson. Paxton. — Corn has been badly injured by frosts, especially the stover. Late potatoes have done well, and are selling at from sixty-five cents to seventy-five cents per bushel. H. H. Pike. Petersham. — Late hard frosts have injured corn somewhat, and rot has seriously injured the potato crop. Late heavy rains have favored rot in the field and it is likely to continue in the cellar. S. B. Cook. Southborough. — The heavy frost on September 7 did much damage to stover and ensilage. We have had now fifteen days of dull, cold weather, making it almost impossible to handle laud or crops. C. L. Fairbanks. Soutli Lancaster. — Indian corn badly frosted, but stover hurt most. Early potatoes are in good condition. Late potatoes are injured by rains. Ensilage badly frosted. W. A. Kilbourn. 17 Spencer. — Seven days of rain since September 20; three hard frosts. Water was frozen the 30th, forming ice one-fourth of an inch thick. Rowen was cut, and hurt during the wet spell. Ensilage corn was injured greatly by frost, as was also the field corn and stover. P. Emerson. Webster. — Heavy frosts have injured corn and rowen. Ground very wet. M. W. IDE. Westborougli. — The corn and all crops that were not out of the way by September 6 were badly injured by the frost. The corn crop, as a rule, was almost a complete failure ; some fields will not yield any really sound corn. 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A"|I|B110 33BJ3AV IIIIIOOOIIIIII O O Z- 1— 1 1— 1— spunoj a; aj.iy- jad BdBABl) i° PWX aSBJdAV 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 O 1 1 1 1 1 1 1—1 oo B - Oh I PC) '"J!! -ipuoo aSBJaAV CCC 1 OOf-OC 1 >OC 1 ■-- X O »C X X c c c 1—1 — 1-1 1—1 1-1 £ OB !zi O J -2*2*. • • * = £ < Z ■ 4 ■ ~ ~ - t y '■ ~ zr ~— ~ - S 7i - .- - ; 5 - X •a g - — «s H c o - — •— o ad — - - - o .2 2 o ; l£ ■?. & 2 = 9 ■- ft Jj Bulletin No. 5. MASSACHUSETTS CKOP EEPOET MONTH OF OCTOBER, 1888, THE CONDITION, YIELD AND PRICES RECEIVED FOR CROPS THE FIRST OF NOVEMBER, AND OTHER MATTERS RELATING TO AGRICULTURE. COMPILED BY WM. R. SESSIONS, Secretary Board of Agriculture. BOSTON: Wright & Pottkr Printing Company, State Printers, 18 Post Office Square. 1888. CROP REPORT FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER, 1888. Returned to the Office of the State Board of Agricul- ture, Nov. 1, 1888. Office State Board of Agriculture, Boston, Mass., Nov. 3, 1888. General Remarks. With this bulletin our work in this line closes for the sea- son. Though not what we would have liked to have made it, we yet feel that it has been very successful and that it has proven of some benefit to the agricultural community of the State. Many thanks are due our correspondents for the interest they have taken in the project and for the manner in which they have made their returns. We hope that this work may be carried on next season and that we may be enabled to make it of more practical value. We trust our present correspondents will heartily co-operate with us next season. We will mail copies of this bulletin upon applica- tion. The Weather. October, like September, was a wet, cold month. Consid- erable rain fell and there was an abnormal shortage of sun- shine. A severe snow squall prevailed in North Adams on the 9th, and made the summit of Greylock white. In Mon- roe, Franklin County, rain or snow fell on seventeen days, and there were only four days of full sunshine. In that town 6.5 inches of rain and 4 inches of snow fell during the month. Similar reports came from other sections of the State. This excessive amount of cold, wet weather has greatly hindered farm work, and, in some sections, has nearly ruined some of the principal crops. Taking it alto- gether the past season has been a very remarkable one, and the farmers of the State have been made to suffer severely thereby. Berkshire County. Cold, wet weather has; greatly injured crops and delayed farm work. Much of the corn has not been gathered. Potatoes are rotting badly in some sections. The apple crop a fair one. Bristol County. October cold and wet. Corn much injured. Some farm- ers are still trying to gather rowen. Essex County. Cold, wet weather has about ruined some crops. Corn has sprouted some in the stook. In Georgetown prices are reported very low, from the fact that the market is flooded with unripe vegetables. Potatoes are rotting some. Franklin County. Tobacco has cured nicely ; some has been taken from the poles. Corn is badly injured in most localities ; not a bushel of sound corn harvested in Monroe. Late potatoes are rotting badly. Rowen is sold at Shelburne Falls Im- bedding. The apple crop is a good one. Onions are in good condition and prices low. Hampden County. Corn greatly damaged by wet weather ; some is not yet cut. In some cases the fodder is almost worthless. It is feared that the husked corn will heat in the crib. Potatoes show considerable rot. The apple crop a large one and gen- erally of good quality ; some complaint of wormy apples. Fall work very back ward. Hampshire County. Corn much injured by the cold, wet weather and does not dry off well ; much of it not husked yet, and some not worth husking. The apple crop very uneven : very good in some sections. Tobacco is curing finely. Potatoes not rotting very badly. Middlesex County. Corn very much injured, and the stover, in some cases, almost worthless. Wet weather has retarded the harvesting of all crops. Grape crop almost ruined by frost. In Wakefield the cranberry crop a total failure. The apple crop abundant and of good quality. Potatoes are not rot- ting much. N a >; tucket County . Late potatoes rotted some on account of wet weather. The crop, as a whole, is very good in quality and yield. Corn has not turned out well, owing to the wet, cold weather. Turnips are looking finely. Norfolk County. Corn about a failure in some localities. Potatoes are rot- ting some. Plymouth County. Weather cold and wet. Damage to crops considerable. Some rot in potatoes. Corn much injured. Apples not very plenty. Worcester County. Corn has suffered much from the unfavorable weather for curing. Not all harvested yet; some fields are nearly worthless. Potatoes are rotting badly in some quarters. The apple crop a large one and of good quality. In Sutton about half the cranberry crop destroyed, and in other sec- tions the crop is a total failure. NOTES OF CORRESPONDENTS. BERKSHIRE COUNTY. Dalton. — Cider apples are delivered to cider mill for six cents a bushel ; cider selling at the mill for five cents per gallon. Rye thin, and not much has been sowed, as the weather has been too rainy. H. A. Barton, Jr. Great Barrington. — Frost early in September, with almost incessant rain throughout October, has seriously impaired most of the late fall crops. M. I. Wheeler. South Egremont. — Weather wet and cold ; so much so that hardly a farmer in this locality has gathered his corn. Potatoes badly rotted in some fields, and rot is the general complaint of all - C. B. Benedict. South William stown. — Continual rains have nearly spoiled the corn stover, and the early frosts killed many fields that were planted late or on late laud. Pastures have kept fresh. Seeding looks well. Weather cold and fall work badly behind. S. A. IIkkox. BRISTOL COUNTY. North Dartmouth. — Corn very wet; some husked, but in great danger of moulding, on account of so much wet weather. Some are still trying to gather rowen at date, but it is badly frosted. L. T. Davis. Swansea. — October very cold and wet. J. E. Eastabrooks. ESSEX COUNTY. Georgetown. — The cold, wet, frosty season has ruined most of our crops. It is impossible to give a just estimate of the condi- tion of corn, onions or late potatoes. Prices rule very low, from the fact that the market is Hooded with unripe vegetables. O. S. BUTLKK. Ipswich. — Frost and continued wet weather have about ruined the bean and grape crops. Corn is sprouting some in the stook, and sweet corn for seed has failed to harden unless hung up under cover. Potatoes generally in good condition ; about five per cent, rotting. Apples about ten per cent, less than an average, but are of first quality. O. C. Smith. Marblehead. — With an exceptional day now and then, the past month has been unfavorable for fall work. Some farmers have been unable to cut rowen and have turned in their stock to feed it off. W. S. Phillips. FRANKLIN COUNTY. Deerjield. — Tobacco has cured well and some has been taken from the poles. Corn is nearly all harvested, but it is not a full crop ; the wet weather has prevented it from drying and the result is more or less soft corn. Onions are all harvested and are in fair condition. Citaki.es Junks. East Charlemont. — Some crops have been injured by the con- tinued rainy and cold weather. Rowen is sold at Shelburne Falls for bedding. Late potatoes are rotting ; some pieces are not dug yet. The apple crop is more than an average. Pumpkins are not a good crop. The first day of November appears like spring. H. S. Giles. Monroe. — October cold and stormy. Several snow storms the first of the month, frost, rain and cloudy weather the remainder, nearly ruined what crops remained from the September frosts. Not a bushel of sound corn harvested in this town. Many pieces of grain spoiled after cutting. Rain or snow fell on seventeen days, and only four days of full sunshine. Average temperature, 38.66 ; lowest, 23, the 1th. Six and five-tenths inches rain and four inches snow. Wm. H. Allen. 8 North Orange. — Corn that was hoped would ripen off in fair condition, after being killed by frost, has in many cases been nearly spoiled by the wet weather. Potatoes on wet land and dug late are rotting badly. The apple crop is better than was expected before picking. A. Harrington. Hove. — October has been very cold and wet, with snow squalls and hard freezes. October 3 it snowed most of the afternoon. Apple-trees hung full of apples, green leaves and snow, ^\rv have not had more than three or four pleasant days in the month. J. F. Brown. HAMPDEN COUNTY. Blandford. — Since last report the extent of injury by frost to corn lias been found to have been large, and all, except favored ones on high land, complain that but little is sound and good. The apple crop is very large and of superior quality. Constant wet and cold days are making all kinds of fall work backward. E. W. Boise. Brimjield. — Corn shows worse in husking than we expected. Potatoes hold their own, with no increase of rot. The supply of apples is the greatest for years, greater than the demand ; cider apples can be had for the picking. S. W. Brown. East Longmeadow. — October was a cloudy and wet month and progress in fall work was slow. Corn not all cut yet ; some will not cut. The fodder is worthless. Potatoes a fair crop, but not all dug yet. Ten days without rain up to the 81st, but cloudy. E. IE Wheelock. Hampden. — Corn has a tendency to mould in the stook, owing to so much rain. Some varieties of late potatoes show more or less rot ; which fact makes it a good year to determine what vari- eties best resist this disease, and also helps determine what kinds are best to plant for profit. J. N. Isham. Monson. — Early frosts and incessant rains have injured corn. Apples very wormy. E. J\I. Walker. 0 Wilbraham. — Some pieces of corn are sprouting in the stook. There will be danger of corn heating in the crib; posts or sticks of timber set in the centre of the crib is a preventive. II. M. Bliss. West Springfield. — October wet and cold. Farm work back- ward : farm labor high, poor and scarce. J. N. Bagg. HAMPSHIRE COUNTY. Amherst. — Corn very uneven, and some pieces not worth husk- ing, while some on dry land yield sixty bushels to the acre. Pota- toes hold out first-rate. Apples very wormy and poor, as well as small yield. E. T. Sabin. Belchertown. — Alternate days of rain; but the fair ones are mild, which has made it possible to finish up fall harvesting. Plenty, as yet, for cattle to eat and drink out of doors. II. C. West. Belchertown. — Rain, rain, almost every day. Much rowen will not be cut ; that cut badly damaged. Corn fodder also damaged. But little rye sowed, and little new seeding done, the land being so filled with water. C II. 1). Green. Goshen. — Some crops of corn fairly good; others, owing to frost and rains, are nearly a total failure. New seeding and rye much neglected on account of land being so wet. There is some complaint of dry rot with potatoes in the cellar. Pumpkins, squashes and beans are well-nigh failures. A full supply of help to pick apples cannot be had. Alvan Barrus. North Amherst. — Corn cures slowly because of much rain. Turnips are good. Apples are worm-eaten and knurly. H. A. Parsons. North Hadley. — Owing to continued rains and cold weather corn has not dried well and fodder is green. Not much husking done yet. It has been difficult drying off onions and getting them in good condition for market. H. C Russell. 10 South ffadley Falls. — Apple crop very uneven; one grower having a full crop, another not. More barrels harvested than was expected when the picking commenced. Too much rain for new seeded crops and they have turned yellow. Frosts badly injured the grape crop. H. W. Gaylord. Southampton. — Corn stover was badly injured by rains, and the corn has not dried well, being too green to store yet. Apples are good. Prices range from one to two dollars per barrel ; no staid price as yet. R. H. Sheldon. Southampton. — The frosts and extreme wet weather have prevented the ripening of corn. Many fields are injured too ; one-third of the crop being mouldy and soft. New seeded pieees are looking very well. Tobacco curing finely. Not half of the corn is husked. C. B. Lyman. Ware. — October has been a continuation of September weather ; cold, wet, cloudy, unfavorable for the farmer. Corn injured by the wet weather is in most cases a failure and is not worth husking. Potatoes above the average in quality and not rotting very badly. Apples of good quality and plenty. F. W. Harwood. MIDDLESEX COUNTY. Boxborough. — Apple crop large and fruit fine, but very hard to gather on account of bad weather. Most of the rowen cut-. except what was fed green. One of the worst falls for the fanner to do his work ever known here. A. W. Wetherbee. Concord. — Field corn has become poorer and poorer as time goes on ; none fit for seed and little fit even for feed, as it is light and unripe. Pains have prevented the stalks from drying and large areas have not been touched, there being little value in it for feed. V. G. Pratt. Hudson. — Indian corn was badly injured by frost, and then the very wet, weather was very had for hardening it, leaving it not over one-fourth of a crop. Pasturage never better on November 1. Potatoes are good, with not much, it' any, rot. Grape crop ruined by frost. G. A. COTTING. 11 South Ashland, — The excessive ruins this fall have hurt coin and the fodders. Coin docs not dry out well. The fodder, which farmers in this vicinity place a great value upon, will not average fifty. ('. E. Adams. Stow. — The wet weather has retarded the harvesting of all crops. Corn has been scarcely dry enough to husk. The apple crop is very large here. Fall feed is good. But little seeding has been done. A. M. Goding. Wakefield. — Harvesting season very unfavorable. Our cran- berry crop a total failure; what the frosts left are under water. W. F. Young. Wilmington. — The apple crop is abundant, and of better quality than for the past two years. The corn crop nearly a failure. Potatoes a good yield, and of excellent quality. Four pleasant days in succession are appreciated. C. W. Swain. NANTUCK ET ( iOUNTY. Nantucket. — Potatoes all harvested. The late varieties rotted some, it being so wet. The crop as a whole is very nice in quality and yield. Corn crop turned out poorly, and did not till up well ; too wet and cold. Turnips are looking finely. C. W. Gardner. NORFOLK COUNTY. Needham . — Corn about a failure from frost and rain. ' Potatoes rotting some. P. E. Ames. PLYMOUTH COUNTY. East Wareham. — The weather of October was but little, if any, better than that of September, being cold and wet, and delaying harvesting and injuring forage. The only compensation was in the excellence of pasturage and the good condition of new seeding. A. Savary. 12 Marshjield. — Rainfall in excess. Damage to crops considerable. The English sparrows have taken advantage of the delay, and have eaten the green sweet corn as it was being dried for seed. The later feed is better than for man}- years. Hea\'3T rainfall at date, October 29. (1. J. Peterson. West Btidgewater. — Corn is below the average in yield and quantity, owing to unfavorable weather for curing it. Potatoes are getting scarce ; where there was no rot the quality and size are better than usual. Cabbage plenty ; prices low. Apples few and of poor quality. On account of recent rains we were able to do but little seeding down. C. T. Williams. WORCESTER COUNTY. Berlin. — Very few fields of fair corn. Apples abundant. Grapes a total failure. Most fields of potatoes very nice. P. B. Southwtck. Bolton. — The incessant rains of September and October have made it impossible on low lands to seed down to grass. Corn in the stook has suffered most from the wet and cloudy weather, and the fodder is nearly worthless for feeding. Not half of an ordi- nary crop of corn and fodder (in value) will be realized. Onions are not first quality. H. F. Haynes. Hardwick. — Corn a fair crop. Stover badly injured by frost and wet weather. Apples an average yield and quality fair. Price offered, one dollar a barrel. Pastures looking well. Pota- toes decaying in some cellars. George Mam. v. Lunenburg. — Wet weather has delayed the harvesting of all crops and has injured both corn and fodder. Potatoes are rotting and the price is variable. It has been a very bad time to gather apples, but we are all waiting for the good time coming. James Hildreth, 2d. Mention. — The corn crop is very poor and little harvested at date. Potatoes, in many instances, are rotting badly in the cellar. Apples are very dull, buyers are scarce, and many of the fanners have their whole crop on hand. The land is so very wet that comparatively little fall plowing has been done. H. C. Adams. 13 Northborough. — Farm work very much delayed on account of the frequent rains. But very little corn harvested yet, and many fields reported as not worth husking. Large quantities of grapes have been frozen and spoiled for market, making a serious loss for the grower. J. L. Allen. North Brookfield. — Corn has not ripened well and much of it is soft. Late potatoes have rotted quite a little. Onions, squashes, beans, turnips and such like crops are only grown in small quanti- ties for home use. A. C. Stoddard. Oakham — Owing to another wet month much corn remains in the field ; the fodder is in poor condition, and the corn is not up to an average crop. Potatoes that were left in the ground to a late day are rotting to some extent. The large crop of apples is har- vested at last, but other farm work is backward. W. M. Robinson. Petersham. — Early hard frosts injured the quality of corn and squashes and detracted from their condition. Wet, cold weather induced rot in potatoes, reducing their condition and the yield of marketable tubers. S. B. Cook. Spencer. — Corn is of poor quality and but little of it harvested, owing to wet weather. Potatoes did not rot much. Bean crop nearly a failure, owing to the excessive rains. Pastures are new seeding, looking well. T. J. Comins. Sterling. — The apple crop has been very -large, and at this time is nearly gathered. Corn is light and the fodder is in poor condi- tion. II. S. Sawyer. Sutton. — Many fields of corn are nearly worthless, owing to the early frosts and wet weather. About half of the cranberries were destroyed by the early frosts. It has been a good season for roots and cabbages. Baldwin apples rather small. A. W. Putnam. Worcester. — Corn and potatoes have proved better than was feared. Autumn crops are good. S. A. Bl BGESS. 14 ut 'a lay lad P I 3 I A 888J3AV •|'I)S,IA.UM[ ll,l![.U Ajjiunfi a.oiM.)AV I I I I © GO © I I I I I iO iC 'C CN ^H cc I © *Z lOONXM |*(N coo © ■ © os —. as ~ os H P5 - Z '- o c P3 C - - o Q - c o •[.KlSll'l .!.)(( 0.") 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