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LIBRARY

OF THE

MASSACHUSETTS

AGRICULTURAL

COLLEGE

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1903

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Series of 1903.

Bulletin No. 1.

MASSACHUSETTS

CEOP EEPOET

Month of May, 1903.

ISSUED BY

J. W. STOCKWELL,

Secretary State Board of Agriculture.

BOSTON :

WRIGHT & POTTER PRINTING CO., STATE PRINTERS,

18 Post Office Square

1903.

t

A) 3 %

Approved by
The State Board of Publication.

Ckop Eepoet for the Month of May, 1903.

Office of State Board of Agriculture,
Boston, Mass., June 2, 1903.

Bulletin ^o. 1, Crop Report for the month of May, our first
monthly crop bulletin for the present season, is herewith ju'c-
sented. No marked changes in the form and substance of
these bulletins from those of late years is contemplated at
the present time, but suggestions for improvement will be
welcomed and given full consideration. Whenever practica-
ble, an article by some recognized authority on the special
line he is asked to treat upon will be included in each bulle-
tin, and it will be our purpose to have these articles as timely
to the season and conditions as possible. An article on
"Fruits for the home garden: varieties and culture," by
Prof. F. A. Waugh, professor of horticulture at the Massa-
chusetts Agi-icultural College, will be found printed at the
close of this bulletin.

Progress of the Season.

The May returns to the Statistician of the United States
Department of Agriculture (Crop Reporter for May, 19(>8)
show the area under winter wheat in cultivation May 1 to
have been about 33,107,000 acres. This is 964,000. acres,
or 2.8 p^r cent, less than the area sown last fall, and 4,-
525,000 acres, or 1."^.8 per cent, in excess of the area of
winter wheat harvested last year. The average condition
for that under cultivation was 92.6, against 97.3 for the
total area sown on April 1, 76.4 on May 1, 1902, 94.1 in
1901, and 82.5, the mean of the averages of the last ten
years.

The average condition of winter rye was 93.3, as com-
pared with 97.9 on April 1, 83.4 on May 1 of last year,
94.6 in 1901, and 88.4, the mean of the May averages of
the last ten years.

The average condition of meadow mowing lands was 92.8,
against 86.6 on May 1 of last year, 92.8 in 1901, and 88.4,
the mean of the May averages of the last ten years.

The average condition of spring pastures was 92, against
84.9 on May 1 of last year, 91.5 in 1901, and 89.9, the
mean of the May averages of the last ten years.

Th(? projjortion of spring plowing actually done of that
contemplated, 57.9, was the lowest, with one exception, in
twenty years.

In Massachusetts the average condition of meadow mow-
ing lands was given as 96, the average condition of spring-
pasture as 94 and the proportion of spring plowing actually
done as 50.

Weather Sujvimary, Jax. 1 to May 1, 1903.

[Furnished by the Weather Bureau, Boston.]

The weather of January was of the usual mid-winter type.
Several severe storms passed over the district, and frequent
severe gales were experienced along the coast. The most
severe storms of the month were those of the lOth-llth,
17th-18th, 20th-21st, 24th-25th. The weather was some-
what milder than usual for January, the mean temperature
being about 1° above the normal. There were no unusual
extremes of temperature, and a noticeable feature in connec-
tion with this element was the absence of the warm period,
usually known as the " January thaw." The precipitation
showed a slight deficiency, as compared with the normal of
the month. The snowfall was also rather light, but, owing
to the uniform conditions of temperature, the ground was
generally well covered until the close of the month.

Februar}'' was marked by rapid and pronounced changes
in the weather. A heavy snow storm, a cold wave, a thaw,
thunderstorms and gales of hurricane force were prominent
features. The storm of the 16th-17th was unusually severe.
It reached all sections with heavy snow, and gales of great
violence occurred along the coast. The month was warmer
than usual for February, the monthly temperature being
about 2° above the normal. The precipitation was also in
excess, but the distribution was somewhat irregular. At

the close of the month the ground was generally bare, snow
being found only in the woods and protected places.

The weather during March was very pleasant, although
unseasonal, and some of its elements were phenomenal
and without precedent in .a century of authentic meteoro-
logical records. The precipitation was largely in excess,
the monthly amounts being from iy2 to 2 inches above the
normal. The snowfall was, however, unusually light, and
at the , close of the month there was none on the <rround.
The temperature conditions of March were by far the most
interesting, and abnormal features of the month. The
monthly mean temperature was the highest of official rec-
ords, covering a period of thirty-two years, and averaged
about 10° above the normal for March. According to au-
thentic records, covering a period of one hundred years, the
month was the warmest of its name within a century. As
a result, vegetation and farming operations were reported
from two to four weeks in advance of the average season.

The weather of April was uneventful, and generally char-
acteristic of the season. The tem})erature was somewhat in
excess, ranging about 1.5° above the monthly normal. The
precipitation was near the normal, the departures generally
being from one-quarter to one-half below the usual monthly
amounts. Generally speaking, April was a pleasant month.
At its clo.se the season was estimated to be from a week to
ten days in advance of the normal.

Tempekatukp: and Rainfall for the "Whole Coitntry.

[From United States Climate and Crop Bulletins.]
Week endimj May 4. — The week averaged slightly
warmer than usual over portions of California and the north
Pacific coast, over the east portion of the Lake region and
in the Middle Atlantic States. Throughout the central
vallej's, southern States and Rocky Mountain districts the
temperature averaged below normal. The mininmm tem-
peratures Avere unusually low in the middle and northern
Rocky Mountain regions, and in all districts eastward to
northern New England. More than the average amount of
rain fell over an area extending from Kansas north-east-

6

ward to the upper Lake region. Generally throughout the
central valleys, lower Lake region, Atlantic coast and east
Gulf districts the rainfall was very light and much below
the average. There was an entire absence of rain over
much of the New England States.

Week ending May 11. — The week was ver}" cool in the
southern States and portions of the Ohio valley and Middle
Atlantic States, and slightly cooler than usual over the
eastern portions of southern New England. The temper-
ature avera2:ed above the normal in northern New England,
over the northern portion of the Middle Atlantic States, in
the Lake region, upper Mississippi and Missouri valleys, and
generally throughout the Rocky Mountain and Pacific coast
districts. In the central and east Gulf and South Atlantic
States, and from the west Gulf coast northward to South
Dakota and Minnesota, the rainfall was ample and generally
above the average. The central Mississippi, and Ohio val-
leys, lower Lake region, Middle Atlantic States and southern
New England were practically without rain.

Week ending Mat/ 18. -^ The Aveek was warmer than the
average from the Middle Atlantic and New England coasts
westward to the Rock}" INIountains, the average daily tem-
perature ranging from 3° to 10° per day above the average
from the Missouri valley eastward to New England. In
the southern States and over the greater part of the Pacific
coast region the week was cooler than the average. Practi-
callv no rain fell during the week ending May 18 in New
England and the Middle Atlantic States and over a large
part of the Ohio valley and Lake region, and there was less
than the average over the greater part of the west Gulf
States and in portions of the upper Missouri and upper
Mississippi valleys. In the lower Missouri valley and
generally throughout the east Gulf States the rainfall was
abundant. The western portion of the upper Lake region
also received more than the average.

Week ending May 25. — Except along the immediate
Gulf coast and in the upper Mississippi valley the week
averaged warmer than usual in all districts eastward of the
Rocky Mountains, the excess being most marked from the

central Mississippi valley eastward to the ^Middle Atlantic
•coast. In the Rocky ^Mountain and Pacific coast districts
the week was decidedly cool. In New England and over a
large part of the Gulf and South Atlantic States little or no
rain fell during the week. From Oklahoma and western
Arkansas northward to the Dakotas very heavy rains fell,
while good rains occurred in the central and upper Missis-
sippi valleys and over a large part of the Lake region, Ohio
valley, and Middle Atlantic States. Throughout the Pacific
coast region there was less than the average rainfall.

Special Telegraphic Reports.

[Weathkr Bureau, Boston.]

Week ending May 4. — New England. Boston : Week
favorable for farm work and first part to crop growth ; frost
did some damage ; grass and all crops need rain ; very dry ;
comparatively little planting done ; all fruits, except peaches,
bloom full, but crop in doubt.

Weeh ending Maij 11. — New England. Boston : Weather
exceptionally fine for farm work, but rain nmch needed for
grass and crops ah'cad}' planted, gro^vth of which is very
slow : fruit buds probably average, except peaches ; small
fruits promise well.

Week ending Moi/ 18. — New England. Boston: Ger-
mination and growth of all fruits retarded by drought ; grass
probably injured ; seeding about completed ; apples average
bloom for off year ; other fruit promising, except peaches ;
tobacco beds only fair, but little setting done ; urgent need
of rain.

Week ending Maij 2~). — New England. Boston :
Droughty conditions intensified ; all crops and grass at a
standstill and suffering for rain ; frost 24th damaged tender
vegetation con,8iderably ; apples setting well, and other
fruits promising, except peaches ; tobacco setting retarded
by drought.

The Weather of May, 1908.
May was distinguished by a prei)onderance of sunn}'
weather and a marked deficiency of precipitation. The

8

tomperature conditions presented no unusual features, ex-
cept some noticeable extremes during the first week of the
month, durinc: which it ranged from summer heat to winter
cold. There was a general freeze on the morning of the 2d.
Dui'ing the third week of the month the temperature condi-
tions were characteristic of mid-summer weather, the mer-
cury ranging well into the <SO's. By the middle of the
month rain was much needed, the soil being too dry for the
germination of seeds, and on some high lands too dry for
proper cultivation. Toward the close, vegetation showed
the effect of the drought; streams, lakes and wells were
becoming low, and the dr}^ weather was being seriously felt
in connection with all farm operations. The rainfall was
from two to tlu'ee inches below the normal of the month.
The month closed ^vith the season near the normal.

In the cu'cular to corrcs})ondents, returnable May 23, the
following (juestions were asked : —

1. IIow does the present season compare, agriculturally
speaking, with a normal season ?

2. What is the promise for pastures and mowings, and
did fall seeding winter well?

3. How did the bloom of apples, pears, peaches, plums
and small fruits compare with the bloom of former 3'ears,
and has it suffered from frosts?

4. What insects ap})ear to be doing the most damage in
3'onr locality?

5. To what extent is spraying practised against insects
attacking fruit, and is it on the increase in your locality?

(). Is farm helj) scarce, or plenty; and what proportion
can be called good help?

7. What are the average wages paid farm help in your
vicinity, with board? Without board ?

8. AVill there be any marked changes in the acreage of
the usual farm crops, and do you note any new enterprises
in the line of agriculture ?

Returns have been received from 149 correspondents, and
from them the following sumniury has been compiled : —

The Season.
The month of May has been unusually dry, no rain
having fallen up to the time of going to press in many
sections of the State, and only scattered showers in any
section. The drought has checked vegetation and pre-
vented the germination of seeds, making replanting neces-
sary in some instances ; and, although the month opened
from ten days to two weeks in advance of the normal, it is
doubtful if it is now up to tlie normal in the progress of
farm crops. Rain is urgently needed in all sections, and
the prospect of the season's operations is not bright. The
fruit bloom was in advance of the normal in all sections.

Pastures and Mowings.

Fall seeding and grass of all kinds is reported to have

wintered unusually well, and the warm weather of early

spring gave it a good start. The drought of the present

month has, however, practically stopped the growth of

grass, and feed in pastures is already becoming short.

Even with plentiful rains in future, the hay crop must be a

scanty one, upland mowings having begun to turn brown,

and the grass on low lands being short and thin. In this

emergency farmers should endeavor to supply the lack in

the grass crop by planting an increased acreage of silage

and forage crops.

Fruit Bloom.

The apple bloom is reported to have been a good one for
a non-bearing year, as it is in most sections of the State,
and has not been materially injured by frost. Peaches did
not bloom at all in most sections, owing to damage from
the severe cold Aveather of last December, and many or-
chards suffered permanent damage from the same cause.
Pears, cherries and plums made a full bloom, but the bloom
of the latter two fruits was severely injured in many sec-
tions, and totally destroyed in some few. The distribution
of damage from frost appears to have been very une<|ual,
these fruits escaping entirely in many localities. The
earliest strawberry blossoms were also killed in many sec-
tions. Berries of all kinds bloomed well.

10

Insects.
Tent caterpillars arc more plentiful than for several years,
but ma}'^ be easily controlled, and serious damage prevented.
Other insects reported as doing damage are potato bugs,
currant worms, canker worms, apple-tree borers, elm-leaf
beetles, flea beetles, white grubs, grasshoppers, onion mag-
gots, cut worms, the San Jose scale and the caterpillars of
the gypsy and brown-tail moths.

Spraying.
Spraying against insects attacking fruit is not practised to
any great extent, except by fruit specialists, but the practice
continues to gain slowl}^ in favor in all quarters. This being
generally an off year for aj)ples, less spraying will be done
in the aggregate by farmers than in 1901.

Farm Help and Wages.
Farm help appears to be rather more difficult to obtain than
for several years, due in a measm'e doubtless to foreigners
who have worked as farm laborers in past years beginning
farm operations for themselves, either on forms they have
purchased or on rented land. The proportion of good help
to the general supply appears to be fairly good, though
strictl}^ first-class help is alwa3^s hard to obtain. Twenty
dollars per month with board seems to be a fair average of
the wages paid, and $35 per month without board, though
little help is employed in this wav. For daj^ work, $1.50
per day seems to be the price commanded at all seasons,
instead of only at haying and harvesting time, as was for-
merly the case.

Acreage of Farm Crops.
The acreage of farm crops generally remains about as
usual, with possibly a slight increase in that of corn and
also in that of onions in the Connecticut valley. Owing to
the present drought, more than the usual acreage of forage
crops and of crops for the silo will probably be put in.

11

JS^OTES OF CORRESPONDENTS.

(Returned to us May 23.)

BERKSHIRE COUNTY.

New Marlborough (E, W. Rhoades). — The season is early,
bat dry. The prospect for pastures and mowings is poor ; fall
seeding wintered finely. There was a three-fourths bloom on
apples and pears ; plums and small fruits good ; none on peaches.
Tent caterpillars and borers are doing some damage. Not much
spraying is done, and there is no increase. Farm help is very
scarce, and not over half of it is good help. Wages average $20
per month with board, and SI. 25 to SI. 50 per day without board.
There will perhaps be some increase in the acreage of potatoes.

Becket (VVm. H. Snow). — The season has been dry and hot.
The outlook for the hay crop and pasturage is very poor; fall
seeding wintered well, but is drying up. The fruit bloom was a
full average. Tent caterpillars are doing some damage. Spray-
ing is not practised to any extent. Farm help is very scarce, and
poor at that. Wages average $20 per month with board, and $30
per month without board. There will be some extra crops sown
to help out the hay crop.

Lee (A. Bradley). — The season is very discouraging, owing
to the present drought. Pastures and mowings are in very poor
condition ; fall seeding wintered well. There was a full bloom of
all kinds of fruit, and it was not injured by frost. Tent cater-
pillars are doing some damage. Spraying is practised to a very
limited extent, and is not increasing. Help is plenty, but it is
very difficult to get first-class help. Wages average $20 per month
with board, and $40 per month without board.

West Stnckbridge (Jas. S. Moore). — The present season is not
up to the average, on account of hot, dry weather. Unless we
get rain soon, pastures on uplands will be a failure. Frosts injured
the cherry bloom, but otherwise there is a good prospect for all
kinds of fruit. Potato bugs and currant worms are doing some
damage, also elm-leaf beetles. No s|)raying is done in this town.
Farm help is scarce, and generally poor. Wages average from
$20 to $25 per month with board, and from $30 to $40 per month
■without board. There is about the usual acreage of farm crops.

12

Hinsdale (Thos. F. Barker). — There has been no rain, except
one small shower, for five weeks, and crops are very backward.
Pastures and mowings have been very good, but are now drying
up ; fall seeding wintered well. The fruit bloom was very much
below that of last year, but has not suffered from frosts. No in-
sects are doing damage at present. Farm help is scarce, with
one-third of it fair help. Wages average from $18 to $22 per
month with board, and about $28 without board. More corn and
oats than usual have been put in.

Dalton (Wesley B. Barton). — The season is about an average
one, agriculturally speaking. Pastures and mowings look badly,
because of drought ; fall seeding wintered well. The fruit bloom
was a full average one. Canker worms are doing some damage.
Ten per cent of our farmers spray their fruit trees, and the prac-
tice is increasing. Farm help is scarce, with 10 per cent of it
good help. Wages average $20 per month with board, and $1.50
per day without board. Less potatoes than usual and more corn
have been put in. Cows are scarce and high, and milk scarce.

New Ashford (Elihd Ingraham). — The season is a poor one,
from lack of rain. Pastures and mowings are in very poor condi-
tion; fall seeding wintered well. There is a good fruit bloom,
with no injury from frost. Tent caterpillars are doing some dam-
age. Spraying is not practised at all. Farm help is plenty, and
half of it good help. Wages average $16 per month with board,
and $1 per day without board.

Florida (E. D. Rice) . — The season is about as forward as usual,
with farm work more than ordinarily so. Pastures and mowings
are in very poor condition, and need rain. The fruit bloom was
about half the normal, but there has not been much damage from
frost. Spraying against insects attacking fruit is practised by
10 per cent of our people. Farm help is scarce, and one-fourth of
it is good help. Wages average $20 per month with board, and
$1.50 per day without board. Acreage of farm crops about the
same as usual ; quite a number of farms have been sold during the
past year.

FRANKLIN COUNTY.

Colrain (A. A. Smith). — The season is below the normal,
agriculturally speaking. Pastures and mowings are in very poor
condition ; fall seeding wintered well, but the dry spring has
nearly ruined it. There was a full fruit bloom. Spraying against
insects attacking fruit is practised to a considerable extent, and
is on the increase. Farm help is scarce, and a very small propor-
tion of that available is good help. Any price asked is paid for
good help, both with and without board.

13

Shelburne (Geo. E. Taylor, Jr.). — The season is about a
week earlier than the normal. Pastures and mowings are very
dry at present; grass wintered very well. There was about an
average fruit bloom ; peaches injured by frosts. Tent caterpil-
lars are doing some damage. Spraying is not largely practised,
but it is slowly increasing. Farm help is very scarce, and very
little of it is reliable help. Wages average $20 per month or better
with board, and from $30 to $40 per month without board.

Ashfield (Chas. Howes). — The spring opened earlier than
usual, but was at first dry and cold, and later dry and hot. Pas-
tures and mowings are drying up, and the prospect for the hay
crop is poor ; fall seeding wintered well. The fruit bloom was
very fine, except on peaches and some varieties of small fruits.
Tent caterpillars are doing some damage. Spraying is practised
to a limited extent, and is on the increase. Farm help is very
scarce, and it is hard to get good help. Wages average $1 per
day with board, and $1.50 per day without board. More corn
will be planted than usual, and more forage crops raised.

Whately (Frank Dickinson). — The season is a week earlier
than usual, and very dry. Pastures and mowings are badly dried
up ; all grass wintered well. Apples gave a good bloom ; other
fruits light. Spraying is very little practised. Farm help is scarce,
and not more than one in four or five is good help. Wages aver-
age $18 to $20 per month with board, and $1.50 per day without
board.

Sunderland (J. M. J. Legate) . — The season is very dry, and all
crops are at a standstill. Feed in pastures is very short, and the
hay crop will be very light ; fall seeding wintered well, but went
the way of the rest. There was about an average fruit bloom ;
apples do not seem to have suffered from frost, but plums and
peaches were ruined. A few tent caterpillars have appeared. No
spraying is done here. There is ho farm help to be hired at the
present time. Wages average from $18 to $23 per month with
board, and $1.50 per day without board. There has been a heavy
increase in the acreage of onions, and a slight increase in that of
tobacco. The scarcity of farm help is due to the increase in onion
acreage, farmers having let land to the Poles for raising onions,
until they have all they can do without working out by the month.

Northfield (Thos. R. Callendar). — The season is early, but
dry. Unless rain comes soon, pastures and mowings will be very
poor ; fall seeding wintered well. Fruit generally bloomed well.
No insects are doing damage as yet. Very little spraying is done.
Farm help is very scarce, but fairly good. Wages range from $18
to $25 per month with board, and from $1.50 to $2 per day with-
out board.

14

Wendell (N. D. Plumb). — The season is very forward, but the
ground is too dry for seed to germinate. Pasturage is very back-
ward, also mowings and seeding, as we have had no rain since
April 20. Apples and pears look promising. But very little spray-
ing is done. Good help is very scarce, and there is a good demand
for help, good, bad and indifferent. Wages range from $18 to S25
per month with board, and from $1.50 to $1.75 per day without
board. There is an increased acreage of oats.

Orange (A. C. White). — Spring opened very early, but the
present dry weather is spoiling all. Pastures and mowings are too
dry to make any calculation as to the prospect. There was the
normal fruit bloom, with no damage from frost. Currant worms
and potato bugs are doing some damage. Spraying is practised
to a very limited extent. Help is scarce. Wages average $20 per
month with board, and $1.50 per day without board.

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.

Greeyiwich (Wm. S. Douglas). —The season is backward, and
very dry. The promise for pastures and mowings is poor, on
account of the continued dry weather. The fruit bloom was very
light, and it has suffered from frost. Tent caterpillars and cur-
rant worms are doing some damage. Spraying is but little prac-
tised. Farm help is scarce, and but a small proportion of it is
good help. Wages average $25 per month with board, and $1.50
per day without board.

Amherst (Wm. P. Brooks). — The season is from two to three
weeks earlier than usual, but exceptionally dry and hot. All fall
seeding wintered exceptionally well, but the present outlook is for
a very light hay crop and scanty pastures, save on rich and moist
soils. Apple bloom uneven, but on the whole very abundant for
an odd year ; pears full, but -many varieties injured by frost ;
peaches no bloom ; plums full, but badly hurt by frost, espe-
cially Japanese plums ; raspberries, blackberries and currants full ;
strawberries, early bloom destroyed, but doing well except on
dryest soils. Tent caterpillars are doing some damage. Spray-
ing is not much practised, and is increasing but slowly. Farm
help is very scarce, and there are but few good men. Wages
range from $15 to $30 per month with board. The acreage of
onions is increased from 12 to 15 per cent, and they have generally
come up well. Shade tobacco setting has begun.

South Hadley (H. W. Gaylord). — The season opened very
early, but everything seems to be at a standstill now. Fall seed-
ing wintered well, but is making no growth ; pastures and mow-

15

ings offer a very discouraging prospect. The bloom on cherry and
pear trees was killed by frost, and a large percentage of apple and
plum trees blossomed only on the south side. Tent caterpillars
are our most plentiful insect. Spraying is not practised outside
of village lots, and is not increasing. Farm help is very scarce.
Wages average $18 to $20 per month with board, and $1.50 per
day without board. More forage crops than ordinarily have been
put in.

Southampton (C. B. Lyman). — The season promised well, but
want of rain is now a serious drawback. Pastures and mowings
are in poor condition ; fall seeding wintered well. The fruit bloom
was full for an odd year ; pears, peaches and plums were killed by
frost. Tent caterpillars are doing some damage. Not much spray-
ing is done here. Farm help is scarce, and about one-fourth of it
good help. Wages average $19 to $22 per month with board, and
$1.50 per day without board. No rain for four weeks.

Chesterfield (Horatio Bisbee). — The season is a poor one,
owing to drought. Pastures and mowings are in poor condition ;
fall seeding wintered well. There was a fair fruit bloom. Tent
caterpillars are doing some damage. Spraying is not practised at
all. Farm help grows scarcer and poorer each year. Wages
average from $18 to $22 per month with board, and from $1.25 to
$1.50 per day without board.

Williamsburg (F. C. Richards). — The season is earlier than
usual, but is very dry. Pastures and mowings started well, but
are badly affected by drought. Medium bloom of apples, plums
and cherries ; heavy bloom of pears ; no peaches. Spraying is
hardly practised at all, and is not increasing. Farm help, both
good and poor, is very scarce. Wages average $18 to $20 per
month with board, and from $30 to $35 per month without board.

Cummington (S. W. Clark) . — The season is very dry, with no
rain for five weeks, and very little cloudy weather. Grass is
growing very thin ; fall seeding wintered well. Fruit bloom nor-
mal, with no damage from frost. Tent caterpillars are doing some
damage. Spraying is very little practised, not as much as a few
years ago. Farm help is rather scarce, mostly Polish, and pretty
good. Wages average $20 per month with board, and $1.25 to
$1.50 per day without board. More corn than usual is being put
in for the silo.

HAMPDEN COUNTY.

Tolland (E. M. Moore). — The season opened two weeks earlier
than usual, but owing to drought, crops are about normal. Pas-
tures and mowings are pretty well dried up ; fall seeding winter-

16

killed somewhat. Apple bloom about 75 per cent ; pears, plums
and small fruits full. Tent caterpillars are more plenty than usual.
Spraying is not practised to any extent in this vicinity. Farm
help is scarce. Wages average $20 per month with board, and
$1.25 to $1.50 per day without board. There is no marked change
in the acreage of farm crops. No rain of any amount has fallen
since April 15.

Russell (E. D. Parks). — The season is about two weeks in ad-
vance of the normal. The prospects are that there will be no feed
in pastures, as they are drying up from lack of rain. There was
a very full fruit bloom, and the frost did not injure it. Tent
caterpillars are doing some damage. Spraying is but little prac-
tised, but is increasing. Farm help is scarce, and not over one-
fourth of it is good help. Wages average $1 per day with board,
and $1.50 per day without board. We have had no rain for six
weeks or more.

Westjield (C. F. Fowler). — The season is earlier than usual,
but the dry weather of the past two weeks has checked plant
growth. Pastures are looking poorly, and grass is drying very
badly ; fall seeding stands well, but is small. Fruit, with the ex-
ception of peaches, bloomed very full, but suffered from frosts.
Tent caterpillars are more plentiful than usual. Spraying is not
practised much in this section. Help is scarce. Wages average
from $20 to $25 per month with board, and $1.50 per day without
board. There is a slight decrease in the acreage of tobacco.

West Springfield (J. N. Bagg). — We are suffering from an
unprecedented drought. Grass is light and fall seeding fair. The
fruit bloom was inferior. Tent caterpillars are doing some dam-
age. Very little spraying is done. Farm help is scarce. Wages
average $16 per month with board, and $25 per month without
board. Hundreds of bushels of onions have been plowed in in
this vicinity.

East Longmeadow (J. L. Davis). — The season was cold and
backward at first, and is now very dry. Pastures and mowings
are in the poorest condition ever seen. Fi'ost hurt the peach
bloom, but other fruits made a full bloom. About one in twenty
of our people spray. Farm help was never so scarce, and conse-
quently the quality is of the poorest. Wages average $20 per
month with board, and $1.50 per day without board. There will
be a large amount of oats, Hungarian grass, millet and fodder
corn sowed.

Wilbraham (E. C. Clark). — The season is about a normal
one as to forwardness. Pastures and mowings are drying up ;

17

fall seeding wintered fairly well. Fruit trees bloomed full, but
most of the fruit buds were destroyed by frost. There are large
numbers of tent caterpillars and currant worms doing damage, and
potato bugs have appeared in large numbers on early potatoes.
Farm help is scarce, and one-third of it good help. Wages aver-
age $22 per month witli board, and $35 per mouth without board.
Spraying against insects attacking fruit is on a decline this year.
Not as much planting of farm crops as usual has been done, on
account of the scarcity of help.

Monson (F. D. Rogers). — The season is forward, but very
dry. Pastures are yielding but little feed ; fall seeding wintered
well. The fruit bloom was light; practically no peaches ; and all
fruits except apples suffered from frosts. Very little spraying has
been done. Farm help is very scarce, and most of it is fairly
good. Wages average $20 per month with board, and $30 per
month without board, \Yith house and fuel. There will be an in-
creased acreage of corn aud forage crops.

Holland (F. Wight). — The season is earlier than usual, but
very dry. Feed in pastures is very poor and is drying up, and
mowings are the same. The fruit bloom was not up to an average
bloom, and was injured by frost in some places. Tent caterpillars
are doing some damage. Spraying is not practised to any great
extent, and is not increasing very rapidly. It is almost impossible
to get any farm help, and all that offers is considered good.
Wages average $1 per day with board, and $1.50 per day without
board.

WORCESTER COUNTY.

Dudley (J. J. Gillrs). — All crops are suffering severely from
drouglit. Pastures are yielding very little feed, and mowings are
at a standstill. Apples bloomed well for an off year; frost did
some damage to peaches and early strawberries. Tent caterpillars
and striped squash bugs are doing some damage. Spraying is
practised to but a limited extent, and is not on the increase.
Wages for farm help average from $18 to $20 per month with
board, and 15 cents per hour without board. There are no
marked changes in the acreage of the usual farm crops.

Brookjield (F. E. Prouty). — The season is more forward than
usual, but is dry. The dry weather is injuring pastures and mow-
ings ; fall seeding looked well early in the season. The fruit
bloom in this section was generally not over one-third of a full
bloom. Tent caterpillars are doing some damage. Spraying is
practised but little, and does not increase much. Farm help is

18

rather scarce, with half of it good help. Wages range from $20
to $25 per month with board, and average $1.50 per day without
board.

North Brookfield (J. H. Lane). — The season is at least two
weeks earlier than the normal in foliage, but is too dry for growth.
Pastures are drying up, as are mowings to some extent. The
apple bloom was light, that of pears heavy. Tent caterpillars are
more plentiful than ever before. Farm help is very scarce, and
not over 10 per cent of it is good help. Wages range from $20 to
$35 per month with board, and from $1.50 to $1.85 per day with-
out board. More silage crops than usual will be grown.

Petersham (S. B. Cook). — The season is not up to the normal,
on account of the exceeding drought. Pastures and mowings
are parched and dry, and the promise is poor. Tent caterpillars
are plenty, and are the chief insect doing damage. Very little
spraying done, and it is not on the increase. Farm help is scarce,
and one-third of it is good help. Wages average $1.50 per day
with board, and $1.75 without board. The acreage of potatoes
and corn will be increased.

Royalston (C. A. Stimson). — The season is hot and dry. Pas-
tures and mowings have dried up badly ; fall seeding wintered
well. There was a medium fruit bloom, and no damage from frost.
Spraying is not practised to any extent. Farm help is scarce, and
one-fourth of it is good help. Wages average $1 per day with
board and $1.50 per day without board.

Gardner (A. F. Johnson). — The season is a little earlier than
the normal. Pastures and grass look badly, and are much in need
of rain. The apple bloom was one-fourth of the normal bloom ;
full bloom on wild berries. Spraying is not practised in this
locality. Farm help is scarce. Wages average from $20 to $25
per month with board, and $1.50 per day without board.

FUchburg (Jabez Fisher). — The fruit bloom was about eight
days earlier than the average for forty-seven years. Fall seeding
wintered unusually well. The fruit bloom was fair only, and has
suffered but little from frost. Tent caterpillars are doing some
damage. There is a slight increase in spraying, but the practice is
not general. Farm help is very scarce. Wages average $20 per
month with board, and $1 .50 per day without board. The drought
is intense for the time of year ; seeds remain unsprouted and grass
is drying up.

Harvard (John S. Preston). — The season is not very favor-
able, owing to want of rain. Pastures and mowings are very
short; fall seeding wintered well. All fruits made a fair bloom
except peaches. Tent caterpillars are very plentiful. Spraying

19

against insects attacking fruit is on the increase every year. Farm
help is scarce, and good help very much so. Wages average from
$20 to $25 per month with board, and $1.70 per day without board.
More attention is given to silo crops every year. •

Sterling (H. S. Sawyer). — The season is more forward than
usual. Pastures and mowings are suffering for rain ; fall seeding
wintered poorly. There was a very full bloom of apples and
pears ; peach and plum bloom much injured by frosts. Tent
caterpillars are doing some damage. Spraying is but little prac-
tised, and is not increasing. Good farm help is very scarce.
Wages average $18 per month with board, and $1.50 per day
without board. There will be a larger acreage of forage crops
than usual.

Worcester (S. A. Burgess). — The present season compares
very favorably with a normal one. The promise for pastures and
mowings is good, if we have rain; fall seeding wintered well.
The fruit bloom was superior, and there has been no damage
from frost. Tent caterpillars are doing some damage. Spraying
is practised to some extent, and is increasing. Farm help is
scarce, and about half that available is good help. Wages aver-
age $23 per month with board, and $1.50 per day without board.
There will be no changes in the acreage of the usual farm crops.

Millbury (Herbert McCracken). — The season opened early,
and has been exceptionally favorable for farm work. Fall seed-
ing wintered well, but rain is needed for pastures and mowings.
There was an average fruit bloom, with some damage from frost.
Caterpillars are doing some damage. No spraying is done here.
Farm help is scarce, and not over 25 per cent of it good help.
Wages average $25 per month with board, and $1.75 per day
without board.

Hopedale (Delano Patrick). — Vegetation started somewhat
earlier than usual this season. The uncommon drought must
cause poor pasturage and a light hay crop ; fall seeding wintered
well. There was an average fruit bloom, 'but peaches were badly
damaged by frost. Tent caterpillars are in full supply. Spray-
ing has never been much practised against insects attacking fruits.
Farm help is scarce, and but a small part of it good help. Wages
average $1.50 to $1.75 per month without board. There will per-
haps be a slight reduction in the acreage of the ordinary farm

crops.

MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

Hopkinton (W. V. Thompson). — The season is earlier and
dryer than usual. Pastures and mowings are very dry ; fall seed-
ingiwintered well. Apples made a full bloom for the odd year ;

20

peaches none; pears, plums and small fruits full; early straw-
berry blooms suffered from frost. Tent caterpillars are doing
some damage. Spraying is not practised at all against insects
attacking fruit. 'Not much help is hired in this locality.

Framinghavi (J. S. Williams). — The season has been unusu-
ally hot and dry. Pastures will be short and hay light, unless rain
comes soon ; fall seeding wintered in first-class shape, and prom-
ised well. There was an unusually large fruit bloom, but it was
ruined l)y frosts. Tent caterpillars are numerous. Considerable
spraying is done, and the practice is growing in favor. Farm-'help
is scarce, and about half of it is poor, incompetent help. Wages
average from $20 to $25 per month with board, and from $3.5 to
$40 per month without board. More ensilage crops will be sown
this season than ever before.

Marlborough (E. D. Howe). — The season is about two weeks
earlier than the normal, with rather too little rain. Pastures will
soon be very short, and most mowings are light ; fall seeding win-
tered well. The fruit bloom was 80 per cent for apples, 100 per
cent for pears, nothing for peaches, 75 per cent for plums and 80
per cent for small fruits, and there has been no injury from frosts.
Currant worms and tent caterpillars are doing some damage.
About two-thirds of our farmers spray, but the practice is not in-
creasing. There is a fair supply of farm help, with about half of
it good help, these coming largely from Nova Scotia. Wages
average from $20 to 12.5 per month with board, and from $9 to
$10.50 per week without board. There will be rather more corn
than usual raised.

Stow (G. W. Bradley). — The season is about an average one.
Pastures and mowings are looking well at present, but need rain
soon. The fruit bloom was not as heavy as usual, and the early
bloom was killed by frosts. Tent caterpillars are doing some
damage. Wages for farm help range from $12 to $20 per month
with board, and from $1.25 to $1.75 per day without board.

Townsend (G. A. Wilder). — The season is about a normal
one. The prospect for pastures and mowings is poor, unless rain
comes very soon ; fall seeding wintered well. The fruit bloom was
very light, and frost caused great damage. Tent caterpillars are
doing some damage. Spraying is hardly practised at all. Farm
help is scarce, and one-third of it good help, the rest " green."
Wages average $18 per month with board for young help, and $25
per month with board for men, with $1.50 per day the prevailing
price without board.

Groton (Jas. P. Fitch). — The season is a good one, though
somewhat dry. Pastures and mowings are looking well ; fall seed-

21

ing wintered well. Tlie fruit bloom compares favorably with a
normal bloom, and has not suffered from frost. Tent caterpillars
are doing some damage. Spraying is decreasing. Farm help is
scarce, with half of that available good help. Wages average
$20 per month with board, and $35 per month without board.

Westfonl (J. W. Fletcher). — The season is about a normal
one. Pastures are suffering from drought ; fall seeding wintered
well. The fruit bloom was good in this section, but was some-
what injured by frosts. Spraying is not much practised against
insects attacking fruit. Farm help is scarce. Wages average
from $20 to $25 per month with board for good help.

Concord (Wm. H. Hunt) . — May has been a very dry month.
Fall seeding did well, but mowings and pastures are in need of
rain. Apples had a medium bloom, pears light, peaches none at
all. Spraying is increasing slowly, but few farmers practise it as
yet. Good farm help is scarce, and only a small proportion of
the supply is really good. Wages average about $20 to $25 per
month with board, and $35 per month without board, with green
men receiving less.

Winchester (S. S. Symmks). — May has been very dry and hot,
and foliage is more forward than usual. Pastures and many mow-
ings are practically dried up ; fall seeding wintered well. No peach
bloom ; bloom of other fruits heavy. Gypsy moths are here in
millions, and have already denuded some trees. There is not
much spraying done, but nevertheless more than ever before.
Good help is very scarce indeed. Wages average $22 per month
with board, and $40 per month without board. The acreage of
many farm crops will be less than heretofore. No rain has fallen
since most crops were planted, and a great deal of the seed has not
come up, and cannot until rain falls.

Stoneham (J. E. Wiley). — The season is a fair average one.
The promise for pastures and mowings is poor ; fall seeding win-
tered well. The fruit bloom was very heavy, and has not Ijeen
damaged by frosts. Brown-tail moth caterpillars are doing some
damage. Half our farmers spray, and the practice is increasing.
Farm help is scarce, and about one-third of it good help. Wages
average $20 per month with board, and $10 per week without
board.

ESSEX COUNTY.

Haverhill (Eben Webster). — The season is about a normal
one, except for the drought. Pastures are in good condition,
and mowings fair ; fall seeding wintered well. There was about
a normal fruit bloom, with the exception of peaches, Avhich did
not blo6m at all. Tent caterpillars and canker worms are doing

22

some damage. Spraying is rather on the increase. Good help
is scarce. Wages average $20 per month with board, and $1.50
per day without board.

Groveland (A. S. Longfellow). — The season is earlier than
usual. Fall seeding wintered well ; pastures and mowings are in
good condition, but will need rain soon. Bloom on apples and
pears good ; some damage from frosts. Canker worms and tent
caterpillars are doing some damage. Less than half our fruit
trees are sprayed, but the practice is increasing. Farm help is
scarce, and perhaps 10 per cent of it is good help. Wages average
$20 per month with board, and $1.50 per day without board.

Andover (M. H. Gould). — The season is much below the
normal in rainfall. Pastures and mowings are in very poor con-
dition ; fall seeding wintered well. Apple bloom poor ; pears
good; peaches and plums hurt by frost. Tent caterpillars are
doing some damage. Very little spraying is done, but the prac-
tice is increasing. Farm help is scarce, with about 5 per cent of
it good help. Wages average $22 per month with board, and
$1.50 per day without board.

Eoivley (D. H. O'Brien). — The season is rather backward.
The outlook is poor for mowings and pastures ; fall seeding win-
tered well. The fruit bloom was about half of a full bloom ; frost
damaged peaches slightly. Tent caterpillars are doing some dam-
age. About three-fourths of the orchards are sprayed, and spray-
ing is increasing. Farm help is scarce, and about one-third of it
is good help. Wages average $22 per month with board, and
$L50 per day without board.

Topsjield (B. P. Pike). — The season compares very favorably
with the normal, and most crops are looking well. Fall seeding
wintered well and started well, but has suffered from drought.
Pears and plums bloomed very well ; no peach bloom ; apples
good for an off year. Not much spraying is done. Farm help is
scarce, and not much of it is good. Wages average $20 per
month with board, and $1.75 per day without board. Rather
more corn than usual will be put in. Some farmers are not put-
ting in any more crops than they can care for themselves, on
account of the scarcity of help.

Danvers (C. H. Preston). — The season is an average one,
agriculturally speaking. The prospect for pastures and mowings
is poor; fall seeding wintered well. Apples, pears and plums
made a light bloom, and suffered from frosts. Tent caterpillars
and brown-tail moths are doing some damage. Spraying is largely
practised, but is not increasing. Farm help is scarce. Wages
average $21 per month with board, and $37 per month without
board.

23

NORFOLK COUNTY.

Norivood (Hon. F. A. Fales). — The season is cold, dry and
late. The promise for pastures and mowings is not the best ; fall
seeding wintered well. The fruit bloom was about 25 per cent
of a normal bloom ; strawberry blooms damaged by frost. Tent
caterpillars are doing some damage. Spraying is not practised to
any extent, and is not increasing. Farm help is very scarce, and
about one-third of it is good help. Wages average $22 per month
with board, and $2 per day without board.

Walpole (E. L. Shepard) . — The present season is not up to the
normal, being cold and wet at first, and now hot and dry. Pas-
tures and mowings begin to suffer badly for rain ; fall seeding
wintered fairly well. Apples made a very good bloom for an off
year; other fruit good; some small fruits hurt by frost. Tent
caterpillars and white grubs are doing some damage. Not much
spraying is done in this locality. Farm help is scarce, and most
of it rather poor. Wages average $l.oO per day without board.

Norfolk (A. D. Towne). — The prospect is for a late, poor
season, as we had heavy, late frosts, and it is very dry at present.
There is very little feed in pastures, and if the drought continues
the hay crop will be light ; fall seeding wintered well. Apples
made a light bloom ; peaches, plums and pears killed by frost.
Tent caterpillars are more numerous than for several years. Very
little spraying is done, but the practice is somewhat increasing.
Farm help is scarce, and good help hard to find at any price.
Wages average from $20 to $22 per month with board, and $1.50
per day without board. The acreage of farm crops is rather less
than common.

Millis (E. F. Richardson). — The season is better than an
average one. Pastures and mowings looked well, but are drying
up from lack of rain. The fruit bloom was exceedingly light.
Tent caterpillars are doing some damage. Spraying is practised
somewhat. Farm help of all kinds is very scarce. Wages aver-
age $25 per month with board, and $9 per week without board.
More corn than usual will be grown.

Stoughton (Ciias. F. Curtis). — The season is fully two weeks
in advance of the normal. Pastures and mowings are beginning
to suffer from drought. The fruit bloom is fully up to the aver-
age, with some loss from frosts. I have never seen as few insects
and as many birds as this season. Spraying is practised to a very
limited extent, and is increasing but slowly. Farm help is very
scarce, and good help is not to be had. Wages average $30 per
month with board, and $1.75 per day without board.

24

Franklin (C. M. Allen). — The present season is a very poor
one, agriculturally speaking. There will not be over a half crop
of hay ; fall seeding wintered unusually well. Fruit of all kinds
made a light bloom, and there was no peach bloom. Some dam-
age is reported from the San Jos6 scale ; other insects present in
about the usual numbers. But little spraying is done, but the
practice is increasing. Farm help is scarce, with practically no
good help. Wages average $20 per month with board, and $1.50
per day without board.

BRISTOL COUNTY.

Easton (H. M. Thompson). — Owing to the severe drought, the
prospect for pastures and mowings is not very encouraging. The
fruit bloom was encouraging, and no damage from frosts is thus
far noticeable. Grasshoppers are doing some damage. Spraying
against insects attacking fruit is very seldom practised. Farm
help is scarce, and half of it is good help. Wages range from $15
to $30 per month with board, and from $15 to $60 per month
without board. The raising of cucumbers under glass seems to
be on the increase. Crops planted fully two weeks ago and a
considerable amount four weeks ago have not had a drop of rain.

Norton (Wm. A. Lane). — The season is very dry, otherwise
about the same as last year. Pastures started well, and fall seed-
ing looks well, but needs rain. There was a small fruit bloom.
Potato bugs are doing some damage. Very little spraying is done
against insects attacking fruit. Farm help is scarce, and there is
very little good help. Wages average $20 to $30 per month with
board, and $1.50 to $2 per day without board. The acreage of
farm crops is about the same as last year.

Attleborough (Isaac Alger). — The season is much below the
normal, agriculturally speaking. Pastures and mowings are in
very poor condition, as is also fall seeding. There was a small
bloom of all fruits except pears. Spraying is not much practised,
and is not increasing. Wages average $1 per day with board,
and $1.50 per day without board. There will be no marked
changes in the acreage of the usual farm crops.

Stvansea (F. G. Arnold). — The season is about a normal one.
Pastures and mowings started well, but dry weather has pinched
them; fall seeding wintered well. There was a full fruit bloom
on all except peach trees, which were injured by the cold winter.
Help is scarce, but what we get is three- fourths of it good help.
Wages range from $15 per month witli board for green men, to
$25 per month for the best; without board they are $1.50 per day.

25

or $30 per month with tenement. More corn and tomatoes than
usual will be put in, and less cabbage.

Dartmouth (L. T. Davis). — Pastures are about in average con-
dition ; fall seeding wintered very well. The fruit bloom was heavy
in most cases, but was much injured by frosts. Tent caterpillars
are doing some damage. Spraying is not as much practised as it
ought to be, but is rather on the increase. Farm help is scarce,
and most of it poor. Wages average from $20 to $30 per month
with board, and $1.50 per day without board.

Acushnet (M. S. Douglas). — The season is not up to the
normal at present. Pastures are short ; meadows are in bloom,
with no length of grass ; no rain for forty days. The fruit bloom
was good, except for peaches, which winter-killed ; frosts in May
killed the bloom on plums, cherries and currants. Tent cater-
pillars and potato bugs are doing some damage. Spraying is
practised quite extensively, and is on the increase. Farm help
is'very scarce, and there is no good help. Wages average $20
per month with board, and $1.50 per day without board for a
nine-hour day. More field corn has been planted than formerly.

PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

Marshfield (J. H. Bourne). — The present outlook is not as
favorable as usual. Pastures and mowings are short, and without
doubt will remain so. Scarcely any peach bloom ; pears and
plums full, also strawberries ; apples very variable, some very
full, others few, especially Baldwins. Tent caterpillars have
appeared in swarms. Very little spraying is done, and the prac-
tice is not increasing. Farm help will be plenty until June 20,
then probably scarce ; one- fourth of it good help. Wages average
$18 to $25 per month with board, and $1.50 to $1.75 per day
without board.

Hanson (F. S. Thomas). — The season is early, and compares
well with the normal. Pastures and mowings are in good condi-
tion, but need rain soon. The fruit bloom was good ; this is the
off year for winter apples, but they bloomed quite well. Potato
bugs are appearing, and tent caterpillars are doing some damage.
Spraying is not much practised, and is increasing but little. Farm
help is plenty, and mostly fair help. Most farmers hire help by
the day as they need it, at from $1.50 to $2.50 per day. There is
an increase in the acreage of farm crops.

Plympton (Winthrop Fillebrown). — The present season is
much earlier than usual. Pastures and mowings are in prime

26

condition, but will suffer if rain does not come soon ; fall seeding
wintered well. The fruit bloom was exceptional, and has not
suffered from frost as yet. Tent caterpillars and potato bugs are
doing some damage. Spraying is practised only to a slight ex-
tent in this locality. Farm help is scarce, and less than half of
it is good help. Wages average $25 per month with board, and
Si. 50 per day without board. There are no marked changes in
the acreage of general crops, but milk production is on the increase.
Indications are favorable for a crop of cranberries.

Carver (J. A. Vaughan). — The season is more forward than
usual. Fall seeding wintered well, and grass started earlier than
usual ; rain is needed on high ground. Tent caterpillars are doing
some damage. Spraying is practised on most of the cranberry
bogs which cannot be quickly flooded in summer. Help of all
kinds is scarce. Wages average $20 per month with board, and
$1.65 per day without board. More cranberry bog is being made
than usual, and less of the garden fruits and vegetables cultivated.

Wareham (A. B. Savary). — Owing to dry weather, the season
is late. The promise for pastures and mowings is poor ; fall
seeding wintered well. The fruit bloom is light, and frosts have
done some damage. Tent caterpillars are doing some damage.
Spraying is hardly practised at all. Farm help is rather scarce,
and about one-half of it is good help. Wages average $20 per
month with board, and $1.50 per day without board. There will
be a few more potatoes planted than usual.

Mattapoisett (E. C. Stetson). — The season is a little earlier
than usual. The prospect for pastures and mowings is good, and
fall seeding wintered fairly well. Pears and apples made a good
bloom; peaches poor; no damage from frosts. Tent caterpillars
are doing some damage. Spraying is practised but little, if at
all. Wages average $20 per month with board, and $1.50 per
day without board. There will be no marked changes in the acreage
of the usual farm crops.

BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

Bourne (D. D. Nye). — The season is a favorable one. At
present, owing to dry weather, pastures and mowings look poorly.
There was a good fruit bloom, and it did not suffer from frost.
Tent caterpillars are doing some damage. Spraying is practised
to a small extent, and is not on the increase. Farm help is scarce,
but averages good as to quality. Wages average $20 per month
with board, and $2 per day of nine hours. Most of our people,

27

especially the farmers, have abandoned a good deal of farm work,
and are attending to summer people and small gardens.

Sandwich (R. F. Armstrong). — The season is early but dry.
Pastures and mowings are suffering severely from drought ; fall
seeding winter-killed badly. The fruit bloom was very heavy,
but that of peaches and plums was destroyed by frost. Potato
beetles and tent caterpillars are doing some damage. Very little
spraying has been done in past years, but I think this year will
show some increase. Farm help is scarce, and there is little good
help to be had. Wages average S20 per month with board, and
$1.50 to $2 per day without board. There is a slight increase in
the acreage of farm crops.

Barnstable (John Bursley). — The season is a little earlier than
usual, but is very dry, preventing the germination of seeds. Grass
is short everywhere. The fruit bloom was very full, and there has
been but little damage from frosts. Tent caterpillars are doing
some damage. Probably not over 5 per cent of our people spray
their fruit trees. Farm help is scarce and not over 10 per cent of
it good help. Wages average $'20 per month with board, and 17^
cents per hour without board. Probably a little more corn than
usual will be planted.

Harickh (A. N. Doane). — The season is more backward than
usual. The prospect for pastures and mowings is very poor, on
account of the long drought. Tent caterpillars are doing some
damage. Not much spraying is done, except on cranberry bogs.
Farm help is scarce, but about all of it is good help. Wages av-
erage $20 per month with board, and from S35 to $40 per month
without board. There will be a smaller acreage of farm crops
than usual.

Eastham (J. A. Clark). — The season was about one week
earlier than usual the first of May. Dry weather is affecting pas-
tures and mowings ; fall seeding winter-killed. All fruit trees
made a full bloom, and were not injured by frosts. Spraying is
not practised to any great extent, but is on the increase. Farm
help is scarce just now, as it is asparagus season. Wages average
$25 per month for good .help with board, and from $35 to $40 per
month without board. Prices for asparagus have been fairly good.

Truro (D. E. Paine). — The season is a fair one, agriculturally
speaking. Pastures and mowings are suffering for want of rain.
Fruit trees of all kinds bloomed well. Tent caterpillars are doing
some damage. Very little spraying is done. Farm help is scarce,
but fairly good. Wages average $15 per month with board, and
from $25 to $30 per month without board.

28

DUKES COUNTY.

West Tisbury (Geo. Hukt Luce). — The season is about an
average one. Pastures and mowings promise fairly well. There
was about an average fruit bloom. Tent caterpillars are doing
some damage. Spraying is practised to some extent, but is not
increasing very rapidly. Farm help is scarce, with perhaps one in
five good help. Wages average $20 per month with board, and
$1.50 per day without board. Hop culture is rather on the in-
crease.

29

BULLETIN OF
MASSACHUSETTS BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

FRUITS FOR THE HOME GARDEN: VARIETIES AND
CULTURE.

By Prof. F. A. Waugh, Professor of fforticuUure, Massachusetls Agricultural College.

Fruit growing has unquestionably made great progress in the
United States and Canada during the last decade. This progress
has been not only scientific, but practical. We know more about
the principles involved, and we also understand better why these
principles should be applied.

Somewhat curiously, however, this improvement has been con-
fined almost wholly to the growing of fruit in large quantities for
market. The whole tendency of the time has been toward the
cultivation of large orchards, consisting of only one or two varieties
of fruit. All the methods of cultivation have been bent to this pur-
pose. All the discussions of practical men and all the investiga-
tions of scientists have been faced in this direction. The growing
of fruit in a small way in the home has been neglected and almost
forgotten. This is quite a different matter, and one in which we
have made no progress. In fact, we are not so well off now as
were our fathers in the time of Marshall P. Wilder, Hovey and
the Downings.

There are many indications, however, that we are coming back
to a greater appreciation of the home fruit garden. It is much to
be hoped that many farmers and suburban families will grow more
fruit for themselves, and without an idea of making the business
a profitable market venture.

In choosing varieties for a home garden, one must make his
selection according to principles essentially different from those
which govern him in setting out a commercial orchard. (1) In
the first place, the home orchard requires a large number of vari-
eties. The commercial growers now commonly confine them-
selves to two or three at the utmost, whereas every man would
like to have his table supplied with a large variety and through a

30

longer season. (2) This means that the selection of varieties for
the home garden should be so arranged as to produce this required
succession. (3) In the home garden quality will be considered
chiefly, whereas in the commercial orchard prolificacy in bearing
and high color of the fruit are primarily sought for. (4) Old
favorites will be especially considered in the home garden. Every
man has some particular apple which he fancies especially, per-
haps on account of some old association or for some less obvious
reason. All such varieties should be cherished in the home gar-
den, although it would be a fatal mistalve to plant them for profit.
(5) As regards apples particularly, one more observation may be
made, i.e., that a much larger percentage of summer and autumn
varieties may be planted in the home garden than could be justi-
fied in the market orchard.

With these principles in view, I will now name those fruits
amongst which the grower would most naturally choose in making
up a list for a small home garden in Massachusetts. It should be
understood, of course, that I do not recommend the planting of
this entire number, nor, indeed, do I insist upon any particular
variety. I have already said that every man must follow his own
preference and judgment very largely. When one is planting for
commercial purposes, he has to meet the requirements of the mar-
ket ; when he plants for himself, he" suits his own taste.

Apples.

Red Astrachan is perhaps one of the first apples to be ready for
eating in this latitude. It is of very brisk and tart flavor, and
answers the purpose for producing the yearly cases of apple colic
so much required in a thriving family of farm boys. For this
good work it should not be overlooked. It makes good apple-
sauce, and is attractive for some other reasons, but its chief merit
is its earliness.

Early Harvest is usually held to be an apple of much better
quality than the last, although there is a difference of opinion on
this point. It is a good eating apple, however, and fairly good
for cooking, so that it falls into the succession very nicely.

Williams (Early Williams or Williams Favorite) : This is one
of the best apples of the season. Personally, I would almost as
soon save my appetite until Williams is ready, as to spoil it with
Red Astrachan and Early Harvest. Williams forms a good hardy
tree, which bears well. The fruit is medium size, of good form
and highl}^ colored. This variety ought never to be overlooked in
making up a family orchard.

Grimes (Grimes Golden) is highly regarded in the west, and,

31

though comparatively less popular here, is still a favorite with
many good old-fashioned people. The tree is not a very thrifty
grower, although it is not subject to diseases. It is a fairly proliGc
bearer. The fruit is medium size, bright, clear yellow, aromatic
and of high quality. It is excellent for baking or for making pies.

Mcintosh (Mcintosh Red) is gaining in popularity in New Eng-
land. It is now quite largely planted in the northern New Eng-
land States, and is gaining friends in Massachusetts. The tree is
remarkably thrifty and clean, an upright grower and an early and
fairly heavy bearer. The fruit is large, fair, highly colored, with
aromatic white flesh, very juicy and sprightly. It is considerably
subject to the attacks of the apple scab, and requires thorough
spraying in order to secure good results.

Gravenstein is one of the best of the autumn apples, and is
suitable for every purpose. It is good to eat out of hand, excel-
lent for pies and unsurpassed for baking. The tree is vigorous,
thrifty and upright, and bears well. It succeeds in nearly all
parts of Massachusetts.

Mother is a fine apple, which is rather rarely found, but which
is worth the extra trouble required in its cultivation. It is rather
shy in bearing, and somewhat subject to the attacks of the rail-
road worm.

Primate is another early fall apple of superior quality, which is
rarely planted. It is somewhat difficult to cultivate, and the fruit
is so tender that it cannot be sent to market, but it is a dessert
fruit of the first rank.

Porter is a favorite apple in some parts of New England, and
succeeds in certain localities in Massachusetts ; in other localities
it does not seem to be a success. It is especially good for cook-
ing, although it is also an excellent dessert fruit.

Harvey (Fall Harvey) is an old Massachusetts apple, now most
popular in Maine, but one well worth growing in many parts of
this State also. It is a medium large, oblate-conic, rich yellow
fruit, with a blush in the sun. It ripens in October, and is good
for eating or for cooking.

Fall Pippin, in the localities where it succeeds, is one of the
best of all autumn fruit. It is not highly colored and does not
ship well, so that it is not a popular market variety ; but when
nicely grown and eaten at home it can not be surpassed. It is one
of the best of all apples for baking.

King (King of Tompkins County) is generally recognized as one
of the standard market varieties, although not one of the leaders ;
still, it is a good variety for home use. Its fine color and aroma
and its high quality recommend it to all fruit lovers. The tree is

32

not very thrifty and the variety does better if top-grafted on Spy^
Ben Davis or Tolnian.

Washington Royal (Palmer Greening) : This variety is justly a
favorite in many parts of its own State, — Massachusetts. In
many localities it very properly supplants the better-known Rhode
Island Greening. It is ready for use from the latter part of
November till the middle of January, although with good storage
it can be kept considerably longer. The tree is thrifty and vigor-
ous, hardy and prolific.

Rhode Island Greening : This old favorite is losing ground not
only in Massachusetts but in the home State as well. It is still
extensively grown for market in certain especially favorable local-
ities. In can be cultivated with success in the higher altitudes of
Worcester, Berkshire and Franklin counties, but cannot usually be
relied on elsewhere,

Sutton (Sutton Beauty) is another Massachusetts apple, enjoy-
ing a deserved popularity. The tree is fine, thrifty, vigorous and
upright, and bears early. When it comes into bearing the tree
spreads and forms a round top somewhat like King. The fruit is
highly colored and of good quality.

Baldwin : This is the old stand-by in Massachusetts, and re-
quires no comment. The man who does not know all about Bald-
win had better emigrate to Texas.

Spitzenburg is regarded by many as being the highest in quality
of all our American apples ; it is certainly one of the finest dessert
fruits now grown. It is not adapted to Massachusetts, however,
except on the higher lands in Worcester County and the western
part of the State. Even in the localities generally adapted to it
the tree is a poor grower, and much subject to disease. In order
to overcome these difficulties, it is best to graft it in the tops of
other trees.

Northern Spy is another great favorite, and one of many good
qualities, which succeeds only on the higher lands in this State. It
is always rather slow in coming into bearing, and frequently is a
shy bearer throughout its life. Its high quality and the success
with which it keeps late into the winter, however, make it almost
a necessity in the home garden.

There are many other varieties, such as Westfield, Maiden Blush,
Belleflower, Fameuse, Switzer, Swaar, etc., which inight be men-
tioned in this list, and which would doubtless be chosen by many
persons who have preferences for them. It is impossible, how-
ever, to name all the apples which might be used in a fruit garden
in Massachusetts. The foregoing list completes those which seem
to the writer to be most interesting.

33

No sweet apples have been named in the foregoing list. It is
difficult to find a good sweet apple. Probably Tolman is the best,
although Leicester Sweet and Orange Sweet are preferred by many.
In the selection of sweet apples, one should be left entirely to his
own preferences.

Pears.

The selection of pears is even more difficult than the selection
of apples. There were more varieties named in the books up to a
few years ago than there were of apples, and doubtless more vari-
eties cultivated in Massachusetts. At the present time, however,
the nurserymen propagate comparatively few. The principal ones
will be named below.

Bartlett is doubtless the pear most known. It is a fruit of good
color, good flavor and good tree. It can be generally recommended.

Clapp (Clapp's Favorite) is another good old-fashioned pear,
planted by nearly all growers in this part of the country. It is
ready for eating about the middle of September, and is of good
quality.

Sheldon is not so highly colored as some of the other pears, but
it is of fairly good quality and large size, and comes later in the
season, about December 1.

Duchess (Duchess d'Angouleme) seems not to be very gener-
ally grown. There is a notion that it does not succeed very well
in this climate. It is said to thrive better when budded on quince
roots. When properly grown, it is one of the finest in quality of
all the pears, and should not be dismissed from the fruit garden
without trial.

Lawrence is a fine autumn pear for home use. It is a medium-
sized, smooth-skinned, golden-yellow fruit, rather soft and juicy,
very sweet and mild.

Howell is an excellent medium-sized pear, and a favorite with
many.

Bosc is a medium autumn variety, ready for the table about
November 1. It is roundish pyriform in shape, and rather dull
colored.

Seckel is a small pear, but one of the finest in quality ever grown
in America. It ought to be in every family collection.

Peaches.
Mountain Rose is the first of the early peaches which in ray
judgment is worth growing. There are several varieties which
would come in a few days ahead of it, but they are small and
poor. The fruit of the Mountain Rose is not large, but is ex-
cellent in quality. It is a white free-stone.

34

Early Crawford is probably the next variety of merit to ripen.
It is a well-known yellow free-stone peach, and hardly need be
described more particularly.

Elberta comes next in season of the leading varieties. It is
comparatively new to Massachusetts, and many persons like the
quality less than Early Crawford or Late Crawford. It is an
early and prolific bearer, and well worth planting ; yellow free-
stone.

Late Crawford : This large, late, yellow free-stone variety is
also well known in Massachusetts, and is a great favorite.

Crosby : This is a good yellow peach, of late season, commonly
grown in this State.

Oldmixon is probably the standard white-fleshed peach in Massa-
chusetts, although inferior, in the judgment of the writer, to the
Belle of Georgia, which ripens at the same season.

Among these standard varieties already noted there are many
promising and well-known sorts, many of which are worth while,
but none of which can be safely recommended to the entire State.
Among these varieties the writer is especially fond of the white-
fleshed varieties of the Chinese Cling-stone type. Hiley, Waddel
and Belle of Georgia are the best of these, and are all white-fleshed
free-stones of high quality.

Plums.

The introduction of the Japanese plums during the last few years
has revolutionized plum growing throughout the country. These
new Japanese varieties, along with a few hybrids, have nearly,
though not quite, supplanted the old-fashioned kinds. In the fol- .
lowing list the old-fashioned plums and the Japanese will be given
separately, the former first.

Green Gage : Under this name plums of several different varie-
ties are grown. The two principally found are the true Green
Gage and Bavay's, the latter often called Bavay's Green Gage,
Reine Claude de Bavay, etc. The true Green Gage is smaller
and earlier, while Bavay is larger and later. Both are of remark-
ably fine quality, — in fact, unsurpassed. They are especially
good for canning. The skin and the flesh are green or greenish
yellow, very firm, and the flesh clings to the stone.

McLaughlin is somewhat of the same character of Bavay, but
softer fleshed, and inclined to have a pink cheek. The quality is
very fine. The tree is not thrifty, and requires a good deal of
petting in order to keep it in condition.

Bradshaw is a purple plum, large to medium^ sized, and good
quality. It is a very desirable canning plum.

35

Fellenberg (Italian Prune, York State Prime) : This is a good
late blue plum, which bears heavily after the tree reaches maturity,
which requires several years. It is not of high quality, but yet
cans well, and is recommended by its late season and by the fact
that it is a free-stone.

Quackenbos is a medium late, roundish blue plum of firm yellow
flesh and fair quality. It should be especially recommended to
those persons who wish to have a blue canning plum.

Damson : Under this name several different varieties are grown,
all of which are considerably alike, however. The fruit is small,
hard, sour, and fit only for culinary purposes. It is a great favorite
with many housewives, however, and should be included or omitted
on the recommendation of the cook.

Japanese Plums.

Abundance is one of the favorites in this class, especially for
home use. It comes early, ripening here late in July, usually
being eaten by the birds. It is good quality, but the skin is soft
and easily broken.

Red June comes about the same time, or a little earlier. It is
prolific and a good tree, but the fruit is not of high quality.

Burbank is probably the best of all the Japanese plums for this
section. The tree is a sprawling grower, and very prolific. The
fruit is round, slightly pointed, yellow, covered with red, firm and
of good quality. It is an excellent canning plum.

Chabot has not been much planted in Massachusetts, but is an
excellent variety, much like Burbank in fruit, but with a better,
more upright tree.

Satsuma is a large, red-skinned plum, with very dark blood-red
flesh. It is, however, regarded by many housewives as excellent
for canning. It will not succeed in certain locations, but seems
to do well in most parts of this State.

Wickson is commonly classed as a Japanese plum, although in
reality it is a hybrid, and only half Japanese parentage. It is a
large, handsome, red-and-yellow plum ; the tree is upright, and
comparatively slow in coming into bearing. In some places it
seems to bear heavily, in others sparsely.

Cherries.
Nearly all the amateurs in this country are still trying to grow
sweet cherries, but, as a matter of experience, it may be said that
the}' do not usually pay for the ground they stand on. Black
Tartarian, Elton, Windsor and a few others give half success at
times, but even so much encouragement as that is exceptional.

36

The only satisfactory varieties are the so-called sour Kentish or
pie cherries. Of these there are three standard varieties. Early
Richmond is the first in season, the fruit being light red. Mont-
morency comes next in ripening. It is a larger tree, and more
satisfactory in bearing. Morello comes late, and is almost black
and quite sour. The tree is dwarf, and very prolific. It is one
of the most satisfactory garden trees in the list.

Apricots.
These fruits are grown to some extent in this country, but are
not very popular. The tree is much like that of the peach, and
the culture is the same. Some of the new Russian apricots are
promising, but have not yet been sufficiently tested to make it safe
recommending them. The varieties commonly planted are Early
Moorpark and Alexander.

Nectarine.
This fruit is also very much like the peach, and in most respects
is not superior to it. It makes a pleasing variety in the garden,
however, and one who likes to have a large selection of fruit
should not omit the nectarine. The varieties commonly growa
are Downton and Newington.

Quince.
This fruit is always useful in its season, and particularly adapted
to the household economics of every well-regulated farm family.
It should usually be planted in rich, heavj^ moist soil. The tree
is awkward and waj^ward in its growth, so that it cannot be pruned
into a shapely form. It is a fine bearing tree, however, and good
crops can usually be secured with anything like reasonable atten-
tion. The best varieties of Massachusetts, according to our ex-
perience, are Orange, Champion and Rea's Mammoth.

Grapes.
The grape can be cultivated successfully in all parts of the
State, although probably it will succeed better in the warmer
portions. It prefers a gravelly or even a stony soil, considerable
elevation, and a sunny, warm slope. We prefer to run the trel-
lises east and west, because in that way the vines get the benefit
of the sunlight. There are a good many different methods of
pruning, which are very interesting. If any one good system is
followed, however, it is enough. These systems of pruning can-
not be described in a short article like this, but can be acquired
best by observation. If one has an opportunity to go into a vine-

37

yard properly managed, and see the thing done once by a man
who undoratands it, it will seem a simple matter ever afterward.
The best varieties for this section are those which ripen the fruit
early. The late varieties do not ripen well in this latitude. The
following list does not by any means include all the good grapes
for home growing, but does include the most popular.

Concord is by all means the most widely planted, and in many
ways is one of the most satisfactory of all grapes. Many people
prefer the fruit of that to any other variety. It is thrifty, hardy
and prolific. In general, however, we believe that it is better to
substitute for it the variety named next.

Worden : This is a seedling of the Concord, and has all the
characteristics of the parent variety. Most persons would be
unable to tell the one from the other, except that the latter is
from one to two weeks earlier. This advantage in earliness is a
strong recommendation for Worden, and, as the variety is equally
as good as Concord in other respects, it may well be substi-
tuted for it.

Green Mountain (Winchell) is a fine early variety, of compara-
tively recent introduction. The vine is not a very strong grower
or a very heavy bearer. The bunches and berries are small, but
the quality is very fine. The fruit is white. It ripens very early,
— one of the first of the season, — and is especially to be recom'^
mended on that account.

Brighton is a favorite red grape, ripening in mid-season or a
little earlier. The bunches are a bit loose, but the fruit is large
and of good quality. It is an excellent amateur grape.

Delaware is one of the most popular of all red grapes, although
it is a little difficult to grow. The fruit is small, but very fine.

Wilder and Herbert are two excellent black grapes, of large
size and superior quality, originated by the late E. S. Rogers of
Salem, Mass. Their good qualities are especially responsive to
the careful attention of an enthusiastic amateur. They should be
included in every private collection where grapes are much prized
and carefully managed.

Hlackhkhuies.

Blackberries and otlier small fruits should always be cultivated
in the home garden. Blackberries should be planted in rows six
to eight feet apart> and four feet apart in the row. The rows will
naturally fill in more or less by the growth of suckers, and after
mid-season the rows would soon fill up, unless cultivation is
practised. It is a good plan to follow a rotation of about six
years with blackberries on ordinary soil. The same rule applies
to raspberries. After this length of time plantations are inclined

38

to run out, and the crops are not so good. It is best then to set a
new plantation on fresh soil, and as soon as that comes into bear-
ing pull up the old one. The blackberries which seem to do best
in this State are Agawam, Snyder, Eldorado and Ancient Briton.

Raspberries.

This fruit ought to be planted and managed in much the same
way as blackberries. It requires systematic pruning, which means
chiefly the cleaning out of old wood and shortening back the new
wood to the height of four or five feet. The varieties mostly
grown in this section are the following : —

Cuthbert : This variety is grown much more than any other, and
is probably, all things considered, the most desirable. The fruit
is red.

Gregg is a late black variety which succeeds admirably in some
situations, and which when it does succeed is one of the best of
its class.

Kansas is another good black-cap variety, ripening in mid-season.^
It is preferred by some growers.

Shaffer and Columbian are two varieties differing considerably
from those previously mentioned, and new in cultivation. The
color of the fruit is purplish, and not attractive. The quality,
however, is excellent, and the fruit is very valuable for home use.

Loudon : A medium-sized, hardy and fine quality ; red, not quite
so productive as Cuthbert.

Currants.

These fruits are especially desirable for jelly making and similar
culinary operations. The chief problem in growing is to combat
the currant worm. For this purpose thorough spraying with Paris
green is best. The best varieties are Fay, Red Cross and Victoria.
White currants and black currants are sometimes grown, but are
not in great demand.

Gooseberries.

In a few families the gooseberry is indispensable. It is usually
not difficult to grow. The standard varieties are Houghton and
Smith, although some of the newer introductions promise to be
valuable.

Strawberries.

The strawberry bed should be renewed each year. The best
practice is to set a new bed everj' spring, as soon as it can be
done conveniently. This bed is enriched and highh' cultivated
during the year, in order to get the strongest possible growth
from the plants. In some systems of cultivation the runners are

39

kept removed, while in others they are allowed to grow in the
middle of the row. Such a bed, properly managed, should be in
condition to bear a large crop of fine berries the second spring.
It may then be left during the third year to bear a second crop, if
one insists on it ; but the second crop is much inferior to the first,
and those who cultivate strawberries extensively have found by
experience that it does not pay to carry most plantations over
longer than the second year.

There are many excellent varieties, almost any of which will
answer for home use, and many of which are desirable. Glen-
Mary, Clyde, Brandywine, Sample, Haverland, Marshall and
Gandy are among the best, and should be relied on when the
planter does not know from personal local experience in his own
garden, that other varieties are better.

In general, the management of the home garden should aim at
a high culture, thorough cleanliness and the best enrichment of
the soil. It has come to be almost a part of our language that a
garden should be a spot exemplifying all the agricultural virtues
herein specified. In actual fact, however, we know that very
often the garden is the most neglected spot on the farm. Good
results in growing of fruits cannot be expected from meagre feed-
ing and slovenly cultivation. The trees and bushes should be
always arranged in such a manner that good cultivation can be
given with a horse and with horse tools. The mistake is often
made of jumbling up a garden in such a way that hand cultivation
is required, and this has a tendency to bring about the neglect of
the garden concerning which we complain.

A word should also be said in regard to drainage. The garden
should have good sub-drainage. Of course this is true of any
other agricultural land, but it is more especially required for trees
and vines, because they send their roots to an unusually great
depth. If the sub-soil is cold and wet, therefore, a good growth
of trees cannot be expected. In the matter of fertilizing the soil
no general rule can be given. Barnyard manure is the best gen-
eral amendment to most soils, but where humus can be supplied
in sufficient quantity by other means, the liberal use of commercial
fertilizers should be encouraged. A mixture containing equal
parts of ground bone, muriate of potash and nitrate of soda may
safely be applied at the rate of fifteen hundred to two thousand
pounds to the acre annually. lu case nitrogen is supplied by the
growth of leguminous crops or the ap[)lication of barnyard fertil-
izer, the amount of sodium nitrate may be materially cut down.

Series of 1903. Bulletin No. 2.

MASSACHUSETTS

CEOP EEPOET

Month of June, 1903.

ISSUED BY

J. W. STOCKWELL,

Secretary State Board of Agriculture.

BOSTON :

WRIGHT & POTTER PRINTING CO., STATE PRINTERS,

18 Post Office Square.

1903.

Appkoved by
THE State Board of Publication.

Ckop Eepoet for the Month of June, 1903.

Office of State Board of Agriculture,
Boston, Mass., July 1, 1903.

Bulletin No. 2, Crop Report for the month of June, is
presented herewith. We desire to call the attention of our
readers to the article on ' ' Summer management of the
dairy herd," at the close of the Bulletin, by Prof. F. S.
Cooley, professor of animal husbandry and dairying at the
Massachusetts Agricultural College. The drought of the
early portion of the present season has made the question
of profitable management of the dairy herd one of prime
importance to all farmers dependent upon dairying for any
considerable proportion of their profits, and the subject is
therefore of particular interest at this time.

Progress of the Season.

Preliminary returns to the Statistician of the United
States Department of Agriculture (Crop Reporter for June,
1903) on the acreage of spring wheat sown indicate an area
of about 17,257,000 acres, a decrease of 364,000 acres, or
2.1 per cent, from the revised estimate of the acreage sown
last year. The average condition of spring wheat on June
1 Avas 95.9, as compared with 95.4 last year, 92 in 1901,
and a ten-year average of 92.9. The average condition of
winter wheat was 82.2, as compared with 92.6 on May 1,
76.1 on June 1 of last year, 87.8 in 1901, and a ten-3''ear
average of 79.1.

The total reported acreage in oats is about 27,732,000
acres, a reduction of 920,000 acres, or 3.2 per cent, from
the area sown last year. The average condition of oats on
June 1 was 85.5, against 90.6 last year, 85.3 in 1901, and
a ten-year average of 90.2.

The acreage reported as under barley exceeds that har-
vested last year by about 330,000 acres, or 7.1 per cent.

The average condition of barle}^ was 91.5, against 93.6 last
year, 91 in 1901, and a ten-year average of 88.5.

The acreage under rye shows a redaction of 3.(5 per cent
from that harvested last year. The average condition of rye
was 90.6, against 88.1 last year, 91 in 1901, and 89, the
mean of the corresponding averages for the last ten years.
The acreage of clover for the country as a whole cannot
be satisfactorily determined, but all the principal clover
States except Wisconsin report decreases in acreage. The
condition of clover exceeds the ten-year average in Iowa,
Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and Wisconsin, while New York,
Pennsylvania and Ohio show conditions below their ten-year
averages.

Of the 14 States having 5,000,000 apple trees and up-
wards, but 2, Virginia and Tennessee, report conditions
above their ten-3'ear averages, the conditions in other im-
portant apple-producing States ranging from 2 points below
that average in North Carolina to 23 points below in West
Virginia.

The prospects for the peach crop were decidedly unfavor-
able, Oklahoma alone among the important peach-growing
States showing a condition above the ten-year average. In
the remaining States having 3,000,000 peach trees or up-
wards, conditions range from 1 per cent below the ten-j^ear
average in California to 43 per cent below in Arkansas.

The acreage devoted to rice has been reduced in all the
principal rice-producing States, the principal decrease being
14 per cent, in Mississippi. The condition of rice is below
the nine-year average in all rice-producing States except
Alabama, Louisiana and Texas, where conditions are 1, 1,
and 4 per cent above their nine-year averages respectively.

There was an improvement in the condition of spring-
pastures during Ma}^ in Iowa, Missouri, Michigan, Kansas
and Wisconsin. New York, Penns^dvania and Ohio showed
conditions considerably lower than the month before, while
the condition in Illinois declined a single point.

The total area planted in cotton is estimated at 28,907,-
000 acres, an increase of 1,029,000 acres, or 3.7 per cent,
upon the acreage planted last year. The average condition

of the growing crop on May 26 was 74,1, as compared with
95.1 on May 26, 1902, 81.5 on May 20, 1901, and a ten-
year average of 8G.9. The condition reported for the cotton
belt as a whole and for the States of Georgia, Alabama and
Texas in particular, was the lowest ever reported at that sea-
son of the year. The crop was almost everywhere from ten
to twenty-one da3^s late.

In Massachusetts the acreage of oats compared with that
harvested last year, was given as 105, and the average con-
dition June 1 as 73 ; the acreage of rj^e as 98, and the con-
dition as 85 ; the acreage of clover as 96, and the condition
as 78 ; the average condition of spring pasture as 70 ; the
average condition of apples as 68 ; and the average condition
of peaches as 30.

Temperature and Rainfall for the Whole Country.

[From United States Climate and Crop Bulletins.]

Week ending June 1. — The week was slightly cooler
than usual along the immediate California and Washington
coasts, in the southern Rocky Mountain region, west Gulf
States, central Missouri and upper Mississippi valleys, north-
ern portion of the upper Lake region, and over portions of
New England and the Middle Atlantic States. The week
averaged warmer than usual in the South Atlantic and east
Gulf States, Ohio valley, and over portions of the lower
Lake region, also over the northern Rocky Mountain region
and the north Pacitic coast. Freezing temperatures occurred
in the central Rocky Mountain region and in northern New
England. The week was marked by exceptionally heavy
rains in the States of the lower Missouri, central and upper
Mississippi and lower Ohio valleys, and in the northern por-
tions of the Gulf States, while there was more than the
average over a large part of the ^Middle Atlantic States and
Lake region. There was less than the average rainfall in
New England, northern portions of the ^Middle Atlantic
States, and generally along the south Atlantic and Gulf
coasts and the Pacific coast.

Week endin/f June 8. — The week was warmer than the
average throughout the Pacific coast and Plateau regions

and over the northern portions of the Missouri and upper
Mississippi vallej^s. In southern Xcw England, the ^Middle
Atlantic States and the Ohio, central Mississippi and lower
Missouri valleys, south-eastern Rocky Mountain slope and
tliroughout the Gulf States, the week averaged cooler than
usual. Minimum temperatures below 40° occurred in north-
ern New England. The Ohio valley, the greater part of the
Middle, South Atlantic and east Gulf States, portions of
the central Mississippi valley and limited areas of central
Texas received more than the average rainfall. In northern
New England, over a large part of the upper Lake region
and in portions of Oklahoma, Indian Territory and north-
eastern Texas there was no appreciable amount of rain, while
less than the average amount fell in the central Gulf States,
over the greater part of Florida and in the upper Missouri
and northern portion of the upper Mississippi Aalleys.

Week ending June 15. — The week was unseasonably cool
in all districts east of the Rocky Mountains, except southern
Florida and the immediate coast districts northward of Vir-
ginia, where the departures were slight. Throughout the
central valleys, Southern States and over the western por-
tion of the Lake region the minimum temperatures from the
10th to the 15th were the lowest yet recorded in the second
decade of June at a majority of the stations. Heavy rains
fell thi'oughout New England, the greater portion of the
Middle Atlantic States, in the upper Ohio valley, portions
of the lower Lake region, over local areas in the South
Atlantic and central Gulf States, and also over a large part
of Texas, New Mexico and Colorado. Except over a few
areas of very limited extent throughout the central valleys
xnd upper Lake region the rainfall was less than usual, and
over a large part of these districts there was no appreciable
amount. A considerable portion of the South Atlantic
and east Gulf States also received less than the weekly
average.

Week endimi June 22. — The week was cooler than usual
in all districts east of the Rocky Mountains, over the
southern Plateau region and in California. It was decid-
edly cool in the Lake region, over the northern portion of
the Middle Atlantic States and in New Enoland, where the

daily average deficiency ranged from 6^ to 14°, being most
marked in southern New England. In the northern Rocky
Mountain and north Pacific coast regions the week was
warmer than usual. There was more than the averao-e
amount of rain in New England, the northern portion of
the Middle Atlantic States, eastern Florida, in the Missouri
valley, northern Texas, and over limited areas in the South
Atlantic and Gulf States and Lake region. In the upper
Mississippi and Ohio valleys, the southern portion of the
Middle Atlantic States and over the greater part of the Lake
region and Gulf States the rainfall was below the average.

Special Telegraphic Reports.

[Weather Bureau, Boston.]
Week ending June 1 . — New England . Boston : Droughty
conditions continue, but somewhat alleviated in south by
moderate showers ; damage to gardens, fruits and berries
by frost serious and widespread ; probably half the cran-
berry crop destroyed ; much replanting necessar}' ; pastures
failing ; hay crop will be light.

Week ending June 8. — New England. Boston : Droughty
conditions continue ; showers of Sunday aflbrded some re-
lief in south ; grass light ; good second crop of hops ; grain
poor ; apples holding fairly well, and outlook good ; black-
berries and raspberries in full bloom ; strawberries small
crop ; much tobacco setting, condition fair.

Weelx ending June 15. — New England. Boston:
Drought broken ; rains very beneficial over whole dis-
trict ; winter grain lodged ; apples uneven, blown ofl* by
high winds; spring grain, })astures and all garden crops
much improved ; small fruits, except strawberries, promis-
ing ; much late-set tobacco greatly aided b}^ rain ; potatoes
uneven, but generally looking fairly Avell.

Week ending June 22. — New England. Boston : Cloudy,
rainy weather ; grass, grain and pastures bcnetited ; i)ota-
toes uneven, but improving; apples uneven, growing well;
corn poor, much replanted, some fields ploughed up for
forage crops ; strawberries rotting ; other small fruits im-
proving; tobacco making slow growth, but im],)roving ; all
crops need sunshine.

8

Weather of June, 1903.
June opened auspiciously, the first three days of the
month being clear, with summer-like temperatures and light
southerly to westerly winds. During the nine days follow-
ing the skies were overcast, with the daily temperatures
ranging from 4° to 6° below the seasonal average. On the
8th the first rain of the month fell, which was the beginning
of the breaking of the long drought, which had its beginning
soon after the middle of April. The 13th was a clear day,
but from that time until the 25th inclusive the weather was
characterized by abnormally low temperature, continuous
cloudiness, and almost daily rains. The rains were mod-
erate and of the usual character, except those of the 15th
and 21st, which were downpours of unusual amounts. In
some sections the rain came in the form of cloud-bursts.
The rainfall of the month was unusuallv laroe, the amounts
ranging from two to three times the normal of June. With
slight exceptions, during the opening and closing days of
the month, the temperature was continuously below average.
The highest of record at Boston was 85° on the 3d and it rose
to or exceeded 80° on only one other day, 81° on the 27th.
There was a preponderance of easterly winds along the coast,
and this was often attended with much foggy weather. The
month closed with several pleasant days, there being con-
siderable sunshine from the 27th to the 30th, although the
temperatures remained low. Viewed as a whole June was
one of the most unpleasant months of its name, and the
national weather records show but few parallels.

In the circular to correspondents returnable June 24 the
following questions were asked : —

1. What insects are proving injurious in your locality?

2. How is Indian corn looking, and what is the acreage
as compared with previous years ?

3. How is haying progressing, and what is the prospect
for the crop?

4. Will the acreage of forage crops be increased in your
locality ?

9

5. How does the acreage of early potatoes compare with
previous years, and what is the promise for the crop?

G. How do early market-garden crops compare in yield
and price with former years, and what is the prospect for
those not yet harvested ?

7. How do the quantit}^ and price of dn\ry products and
the supply and price of dairy cows compare with former
years ?

8. What is the condition of pasturage in your locality?

9. What is the outlook for such fruits and berries as are
grown for market, naming them?

Retm-ns were received from 170 correspondents and from
them the following summary has been made : —

Insects.
But little damage is reported from insects, the cold and
wet weather having doubtless kept down their numbers and
held many species in check to a considerable extent. Potato
bugs are the insect most commonly reported, but they do not
appear to be present in the usual numbers or to threa-ten seri-
ous damage. Onion maggots appear to be somewhat more
prevalent than usual and tent caterpillars less so. Other
insects mentioned are squash bugs, elm beetles, cut worms,
rose bugs, white grubs, canker worms, currant w^orms, borers,,
wire worms, plant lice, cablmge maggots, spittle insects and
gypsy and brown tail moths.

Indian Corn.
Indian corn has seldom been in as unsatisfactory condi-
tion at this time of 3 ear. It is reported as small and back-
ward, and tiu-ning yellow in many instances. The severe
drought of May prevented good germination of the seed and
it came up poorly, many fields having to be replanted, con-
sequently showing a poor and uneven stand. Since the
drought has been broken the excessive rains and cool atmos-
phere have kept it at a standstill. Much warm weather is
needed to bring the crop forward satisfactorily, but with
a favorable season a reasonably good crop may be secured.
The acreage shows a slight general increase for the State at

10

large. Ensilage corn has not yet been planted in man}- in-
stances, because of unfavorable weather for preparing the soil.

The Hay Ceop.
Haying had not begun at the time of making the returns,
the dull, rainy weather preventing. The heavy rains have
started grass to growing well and a great improvement
in the crop is indicated. No reliable prediction can be made
as to the probable amount of the crop at this time, but per-
haps a two-thirds crop will be secured. The recent lack of
sunshine will tend to injure the quality of the crop. Haying
will be much delayed this year, as many meadows will be
too wet to cut at once and the tendency will also be to allow
the crop to thicken up as much as possible ])efore cutting.
The mins have greatly benefited grass roots and with timely
rains in future a good second crop may be expected.

Acreage of Forage Crops.

The returns indicate that the acreage of forage crops will

be considerably increased in an effort to supply the deficiency

in the hay crop, but few have been put in as yet because the

rains have made it impossible to prepare the land for them.

Early Potatoes.
The acreage of early potatoes is about a normal one, local
increases in acreaoe being balanced bv local deficiencies in
a great measure. There is much complaint of poor seed,
which with the drought prevented the crop coming up well.
The vines are not far enough advanced at present to give a
reliable indication as to the final outcome, being quite back-
ward for the time of the year, but the prospects are not of
the best as the crop is uneven, with many missing hills.

Early Market-garden Crops.
Early market-garden crops generally made poor yields
except on truck farms where irrigation is possible, but this
was in a considerable measure balanced by increased prices.
Later crops have improved with the rains and with season-
able weather should vield well.

11

Dairy Products.
There is a slight shrinkage in the quantity of dairy prod-
ucts for the State as a whole, but the flow of milk has been
remarkably well maintained, by increased barn feeding in
many instances, particularly in the dairy sections of the
State. There is a continued upward tendency in the price
of dairy products, particularly of milk. The quarantine
against the foot and mouth disease has limited the supply
of dairy cows from without the State and they are con-
sequently bringing much higher prices than usual.

Pasturage.

Pastures are much improved since the rains and while the
feed is undoubtedly still short in many instances they should
be in normal condition with a few days of warm, growing
weather.

Fruits and Berries.

The strawberry crop has been nearly a failure in most
sections, being first damaged by frost, then much injured by
drought, while the rains came at a time to rot a large pro-
portion of the crop on the vines. Prices have generally
ranged high for such berries as could be secured. Raspber-
ries, blackberries and currants promise well. Pears, cher-
ries and plums promise only light crops in the aggregate,
and there will be practically no peaches. Later reports are
needed before speaking with authority on the apple crop, but
the unusually good bloom for a non-l)earing year appears to
have set well and there are few complaints of their dropping
as yet. Wild berries promise well.

12

J^OTES OF CORRESPONDENTS.

(Returned to us June 24.)

BERKSHIRE COUNTY.

Sheffield (Dwight Andrews). — No insects are doing damage
at present. Indian corn is very backward, and the acreage less
than usual. No haying has been done as yet, and there will not
be much of a crop. The acreage of forage crops will be increased.
Early potatoes are looking well. Early market-garden crops are
about average in yield and price. The quantity and price of dairy
products are about as usual. Pastures have been very dry, but
are looking better since the recent rains. Strawberries are abun-
dant, and other berries promise well.

Monterey (Wm. S. Bidwell). — Tent caterpillars are doing some
damage. Haying has not begun on account of rainy weather ;
prospect for about a two-thirds crop. The acreage of forage crops
will be increased this year. Early potatoes are about normal in
acreage and in promise for the crop. Quantity of dairy products
less than usual, price higher; no cows for sale. Pasturage is in
good condition. Fruits and berries are not grown for market.
Corn is looking poorly, but with an increased acreage.

Otis (S. H. Norton). — There is no complaint of damage from
insects. Indian corn is very backward, because of drought and
the present excess of moisture. Haying has not begun, and the
prospect is that the crop will be short. There will be more
forage crops grown than usual. There is about the usual acreage
of early potatoes, but they are backward. The quantity of dairy
products is about average, and the prices fully up to the average.
Pastures are looking much better since the rains. Apples and
pears will be fair crops, and wild berries will be plentiful.

Washington (E. H. Eames). — No insects are doing damage at
present. Corn is backward, with about the usual acreage. The
acreage of forage crops will be about the same as last year. There
is the usual acreage of early potatoes, and they are looking well.
Dairy products are about the same as in former years as regards
quantity and price, as are also dairy cows. Fruits and berries
are not grown for market in this locality.

13

Richmond (T. B. Salmon)- — Cucumber and squash bugs are
doing some damage. Indian corn is very yellow and backward.
Haying has not begun, and there is prospect of au average crop.
The acreage of forage crops will be increased in this locality.
There is the usual acreage of early potatoes, but the ground is too
wet to hoe them, and they look poorly. Dairy products bring
average prices, and dairy cows are plenty. Pasturage is in good
condition. Strawberries are an average crop ; too earW to esti-
mate as regards raspberries, blackberries and currants; apples
average.

Windsor (H. A. Ford). — No insects are doing damage at
present. Indian corn is backward, with about the usual acreage.
Haying has not commenced, and the crop is improving very fast.
There will be au increased acreage of forage crops. Early pota-
toes came up slowly, but will advance rapidly when the weather
clears. The price of dairy products is fully up to the usual aver-
age ; dairy cows about as usual in supply and price. Pasturage
is in fine condition since the rains. Strawberries are doing quite
well.

Savoy (W. W. Burnett). — There is little trouble from insects
this year. Corn is looking badly, as it is backward and has a
poor stand ; acreage about as usual. Haying has not commenced,
and the prospect is for less than an average crop. • There will be
very little if any increase in the acreage of forage crops. The
acreage of early potatoes is somewhat increased, with the crop
looking finely. Not much market gardening is done, but gardens
are generally looking badly. Dairy products are a full average in
quantity and price, and there is a fair supply of dairy cows at
good prices. Pastures are doing finely since the rains. Berries
have suffered from the severe drought, but fruits and berries are
not much grown for market.

Williamstown (S. A. Hicicox). — No insects are doing damage
at present. Indian corn is in bad shape, but the acreage is in-
creased 25 per cent over former years. Haying has not begun,
and the crop will be a poor one. The acreage of forage crops
will be increased this season. There is the usual acreage of early
potatoes, and the jiromisc for the crop is poor as yet. The pros-
pect for market-garden crops not yet harvested is good. Dairy
products are less than usual in quantity, and bring better prices.
The outlook for fruits and berries grown for market is normal at
this time.

14

FRANKLIN COUNTY.

Rowe (J. E. Clemons). — A few tent caterpillars have ap-
peared. There is no marked change in the acreage of corn, but
it is much in need of sunshine at present. There will not be any
hay of any account cut before July 10. The acreage of forage crops
is about the same as last year. About the usual amount of early
potatoes have been planted. Dairy products are above the aver-
age in quantity and price, and there is good sale for good cows at
fair prices. Pastures are looking well, but need sunshine. Straw-
berries, blackberries and raspberries are grown for market to a
small extent, and the outlook is not very favorable.

Hawley (C. C. Fuller). — Tent caterpillars are doing some
damage, and snails are working on strawberries. Indian corn is
backward, and did not come up well. The hay crop is looking
well, but no haying has been done, because of rain. The acreage
of early potatoes is much the same as usual, and some fields look
well. The acreage of forage crops will be increased if the ground
does not continue too wet for planting. Quantity of dairy prod-
ucts better than usual, and price higher ; cows sold well early in
the season. Pasturage is in good condition. Strawberries are
scarce.

Leyden (U. T. Darling) . — The season is too cold and wet for
insects. Corn is ver}^ backward and came up very unevenly, nearly
all being planted the second time ; acreage about as usual. No
haying has been done as yet., but there is the prospect now of a
fair crop. The acreage of forage crops will be increased this year.
There is the usual acreage of early potatoes, with the promise for
the crop fair. Dairy products sell well, and cows are cheaper than
usual. Pasturage is looking well. The outlook for such fruits
and berries as are grown for market is good.

QUI (F. F. Stoughton). — Very little damage has been done
by insects. Indian corn is very small and late ; acreage fully as
much as usual Haying has not commenced, and grass is growing
fast. The acreage of forage crops will not be increased. Pota-
toes are backward. Cows are not quite as high as in former years.
Pasturage is in very good condition since the rains.

Sunderland (J. M. J. Legate) . — The cut worms have worked in
tobacco somewhat. Corn is looking very well, especially the early
planted ; acreage about an average with past years. No haying
has been done yet, on account of wet weather ; prospect for the
crop below the average. There will be no increase in the acreage
of forage crops. Pasturage suffered severely from the drought,
aud has not recovered yet. The outlook for fruits and berries is

15

ver}' poor ; strawberries were pinched by drought, and what are
left are rotting on the vines.

Wendell (N. D. Plumb). — Indian corn is very backward, owing
to cold weather ; acreage larger than usual. Haying is very back-
ward, but the crop will be an average one. The acreage of forage
crops will be about a normal one. There is the usual acreage of
early potatoes, but the crop is very uneven, and many are replant-
ing. Market-garden crops are very backward. Dairy products
are somewhat higher than usual, and dairy cows cheaper than for
many years. The late rains have improved the pastures. Rasp-
berries and blueberries promise a large yield.

Orange (A. C. White). — Potato bugs are doing some damage.
Indian corn is small and yellow, with a slight increase of acreage.
Haying has not commenced ; the crop has looked very badly, but
is improving. The acreage of forage crops will be increased.
Quantity and price of dairy products normal ; plenty of cows for
sale at low prices. Pastures have been badly parched, but the
abundant rains are improving them.

N'ew Salem (Daniel Ballard) . — Potato bugs and currant worms
have been quite numerous. Indian corn is backward, with a poor
stand, owing to extremes of drought and moisture. The acreage
of forage crops will be somewhat increased. There is an average
acreage of early potatoes, with the promise of an uneven crop,
some fields having failed to come up well. The demand for dairy
cows weakened during the extreme dry weather ; quantity and
price of dairy products a fair average. There is prospect of a
moderate crop of apples ; small fruits, especially strawberries, a
light crop.

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.

Pelham (J. L. Brf;wer). — There are no insects doing special
damage. Indian corn is uneven and backward. Haying has not
commenced to any extent; about half a crop is expected. The
acreage of forage crops will be increased. There is a fair acreage
of early potatoes, with a good promise for a crop. Tliere is a good
demand for butter at a fair price, and cows bring good prices.
Pastures are very much improved over two weeks ago. There
will be some blueberries and huckleberries.

Belcliertown (H. C. West). — Insects are doing very little harm
as yet. Present prospects for the corn crop are bad, half a crop ;
acreage full average. No haying has been done as yet, and the
present outlook is for three-fourths of a crop. Double the usual
amount of forage crops will be put in. The acreage of early
potatoes is much larger than usual, and they are looking finely.

16

Quantity and price of dairy products and supply and price of dairy
cows are all fully up to the average. Pastures are below average
condition. Apples promise a fair crop; very few pears, peaches
and grapes ; berries also a short crop.

Hadley (H. C. Russell). — Plant lice and cut worms are doing
some damage. Corn is in very poor condition. No haying has
been done as yet. There is the usual acreage of early potatoes,
but they came up poorly. Garden seeds did not come up well, and
market-garden crops are late because of replanting. The quantity
and price of dairy products and the supply and price of dairy cows
are all about as usual. Pasturage is in good condition in some
localities, but has suffered from the drought.

Granby (Geo. A. Blish). — There has been very little com-
plaint of any insects except the cabbage maggot. Corn is very
backward, and shows a poor stand, with about the usual amount
planted. Haying has not begun as yet, with the prospect of a
small crop. The acreage of forage crops will be increased a little
this year. There were about the usual amount of early potatoes
planted, but they came up very poorly. The farmers are trying
to get one-fourth cent more per quart for their milk, otherwise no
change in quantity and price of dairy products. Fruits and berries
are not raised for market to any extent.

Northampton (H. C. Comins). — The potato beetle is unusually
plentiful. Corn is very backward, with a poor stand. Haying is
hardly begun, and the crop is still improving. There is an in-
creased acreage of early potatoes, and the crop is promising well.
The acreage of forage crops will be increased to a considerable
extent. Market-garden crops are yielding poorly, but bring good
prices. Quantity and price of dairy products and supply and
price of dairy cows are approximately the same as last year.
Pasturage is not in good condition, because of drought. The out-
look for most small fruits is only fair ; strawberries have suffered
much from rains.

Westhampton (H. A. Parsons). — Potato bugs are doing some
damage. Indian corn is backward, with about the usual acreage.
The prospect for the hay crop is much better than two weeks ago,
and it probably will not fall off more than one-eighth from the
average. The acreage of forage crops will be increased. There
is the usual acreage of early potatoes. Market-garden crops are
generally late. Dairy products are up to the average in quantity
and price. Pastures are in good condition. Blackberries promise
a good crop.

Goshen ( Alvan Barrus) . — No insects are doing serious dam-
age. Corn is uneven, as it came up badly and crows have been

very destructive ; acreage average. Continuous rains prevent
all haying, but may avert what would have otherwise been a hay
famine. Some early potatoes look well, but as a whole the crop
is very uneven, and looks badly. The acreage of forage crops
will be increased this year. Pasturage ia in fairly good condition.
Blackberries and blueberries promise well ; apples dropping badly ;
otlier fruits uncertain.

Worthingt07i (C. K. Brewster). — The acreage of Indian corn
is about the same as usual, but it is looking poorly. The hay crop
is decidedly improved since the rainy season came on, but will
hardly reach the average. The acreage of forage crops will be
increased. There is about the usual acreage of early potatoes,
but the outlook is not very promising. Dairy products are stronger
in price ; price of dairy cows about as usual Pastures are improv-
ing every day with the abundant rains. Cultivated crops are look-
ing poorly and the general outlook is not very promising.

HAMPDEN COUNTY.

Blandford (E. W. Boise). — Very few insects have appeared.
Indian corn is small and backward; acreage larger than usual.
Haying has not begun, prospect for a fair but not an average crop.
The acreage of forage crops will be increased, but much land that
has been ploughed for that purpose cannot now be worked because
of excessive moisture. Early market-garden crops are late, and
yields not average ; prices well up. Dairy products are a full
average in supply ; prices of cows not up to last year, but about
average. Strawberries are a failure, because of drought and too
much moisture later; wild berries coming forward in profusion.

Southwick (L. A. Fowler). — Cutworms, potato bugs and tent
caterpillars are doing some damage. Indian corn is looking fairly
well, having improved greatly since the rains ; acreage about as
usual. Haying has not begun, and the crop has been greatly
improved by the long-continued rains. The acreage of forage
crops will probably be increased. There is the usual acreage of
early potatoes, and they are looking well. Early market-garden
crops are below average in yield, but prices are good. Pastures
have improved since the rains.

West Spi-ingfield (T. A. Rogers). — Onion maggots and potato
bugs are doing some damage. Corn is very backward, as it came
up slowly, and the weather is now too wet and backward for
growth. No haying has been done, but there is prospect of an
average crop. The acreage of forage crops will be increased.
The acreage of early potatoes is up to the average, but most fields

18

Bbow uneven growth. Early market-garden crops did not Start
well, because of drought ; and do not grow well, because of cloudy
and wet weather. Milk is short, on account of drought ; cows
high. Pasturage is looking fairly well. Strawberries are a short
crop; raspberries and blackberries promise good crops.

Agawam (J. G. Burt). — Potato bugs are doing some damage.
The acreage of corn is about the same as usual, and the crop la
very backward. Grass is doing well now, but the hay crop will
be light. The acreage of forage crops will be light. Acreage of
early potatoes about average, and promise for the crop poor.
Early market-garden crops were about average in yield and price,
and the prospect is good for those not harvested. Dairy products
are a little above last year in quantity ; dairy cows about the same
in supply and price. Pasturage is in good condition.

Chicopee (R. W. Bemis). — Very few insects as yet; not many
potato bugs. Indian corn was slow in coming up ; silo corn just
put in. Haying has not commenced to any amount. Potatoes are
doing quite well. Market-garden crops are about normal this year
in yield and price. Pastures were short until the rains came.
Strawberries have been plenty.

Ludlow (Chas. B. Bennett). — There are very few insects of
any kind. Not more than half the corn seed came up, and the
crop is very poor ; acreage much larger than usual. No hay has
been cut, and the crop will be light. The acreage of forage crops
will be increased, as farmers are plowing up mowings and sowing
millet and corn. The acreage of early potatoes is smaller than
usual, but the crop looks finely. Milk is plenty, with prices about
as usual. Pastures are in very good condition. There will be no
fruit of any kind ; strawberries were a very light crop.

Palmer (O. P. Allen). — Potato bugs are doing some damage.
Corn is very backward, on account of the weather; acreage about
as usual. Few farmers have commenced haying, and the crop
will be light. There is the usual acreage of early potatoes, but
the present outlook is not promising. The acreage of forage crops
will be increased on account of the short hay crop. The yield of
early market-garden crops has been below the average, but prices
have been high ; prospect for later ones not encouraging. Dairy
products about as usual in quantity and price, as are dairy cows in
supply and price. Recent rains have improved pastures very
much. The outlook for fruits and berries is not as good as usual ;
no peaches ; few cherries ; apples and pears less than usual ; small
fruits light.

Wales (G. A. Rogers). — Tent caterpillars are doing some
damage. Corn came up very poorly, and many fields had to be

19

replanted ; and all is now very backward. No hay has been cut
as jetx, and the crop will be light on account of the early drought.
There will be a small increase in the acreage of forage crops. Po-
tatoes are looking finely. Garden seeds came up very poorly, and
had to be resown. Dairy products are about as for two or three
years past in quantity and price. Pastures were dried up until the
rains came, but are now reviving. We have had ten inches of rain
in the past ten days. Strawberries were a good crop, and rasp-
berries are looking well.

WORCESTER COUNTY.

Warren ( W. E. Patrick) . — There is no particular damage from
insects. Indian corn is very yellow, and is not growing at all. No
haying has been done, and the crop will be late and small. There
will be an increase in the acreage of forage crops. There is about
the usual acreage of early potatoes, and the crop promises well.
Quantity of dairy products one-third less than usual, and price a
little higher; supply of cows more than meets the demand, but
prices are about the same as usual for good ones. Pasturage is
improving rapidly, but is not nearly up to the average.

Spencer (H. H. Kingsbury). — Potato bugs are the only insects
doing damage. Less corn than usual was planted, and it is not
growing well, as the weather is too cold and the ground too wet.
No grass has been cut, but the prospect is good for an average
hay crop. There will be an increased acreage of forage crops as
the May drought called attention to the scant supply of fodder.
There is no change in the acreage of potatoes, and the crop is in
fine condition. Dairy products are scarce and high, as is also
dairy stock. Pasturage is in excellent condition. Wild blue-
berries and raspberries promise an abundant crop.

New Braintree (C. D. Sage). — Potato bugs and spittle insects
are doing some damage. The acreage of Indian corn is about the
same as usujil, but it is looking poorly, much having to be re-
planted. No haying has been done, and there is the prospect of
a three-fourths crop. There will be an increased acreage of for-
age crops, if there is an opportunity to put in late crops. There
is about the usual acreage of early potatoes, and they are looking
fairly well. Quantity of dairy products fully up to the average,
prices a little above; cows the same. Pastures are in good con-
dition since the rains. There is very little fruit grown except
apples, and they promise half a crop.

Oakham (Jesse Allen). — Tent caterpillars are doing some
damage, Indian corn is very backward. Haying has not begun.

20

and the prospect is good for a fair crop. The acreage of forage
crops will be increased. There is the usual acreage of early pota-
toes, and they look well. Cows are doing well, and dairy products
bring a fair price ; new milch cows scarce and high. Pastures are
in excellent condition now. Apples and pears are setting well,
also plums ; no peaches ; blackberries promise an abundant crop.

Templeton (Lucien Gove). — Potato bugs are doing some dam-
age. Indian corn is small and backward, most of it planted very
late ; early planted did not come up well ; acreage rather less than
average. No haying done, with about a three-fourths crop in
prospect. Early potatoes came up quite unevenly, and are back-
ward ; acreage average. Yield of early market-garden crops un-
usually light, not much difference in price ; promise for later ones
fair. Dairy products are in usual supply and price ; no great de-
mand for dairy cows, and price tending downward. Pasturage is
much improved, and in nearly normal condition. High winds did
much damage to fruit ; berries light crops.

Ashhurnham (E. D. Gibson). — No insects are doing damage.
Corn is yellow and backward ; usual acreage. No haying has
been done, but with favorable weather a fair crop will be secured.
The acreage of forage crops is not increased. There is the usual
acreage of early potatoes, but they are very backward. Quantity
of dairy products about the same as last year ; price possibly a
little better. There is now plenty of feed in pastures. Blueberries
promise well.

Princeton (A. O. Tyler) . — Potato bugs are doing some damage.
Indian corn is backward. The prospect for the hay crop is brighter
since the rains, but there will be only about a two-thirds crop.
The acreage of forage crops will not be much increased. The
acreage of early potatoes is about normal. Dairy products bring
higher prices than usual, but the price of dairy cows is about as
usual. Pastures are in fairly good condition. Fruits and berries
are not grown for market.

Bolton (H. F. Haynes). — No insects of any Account are doing
damage. Corn is very small and backward. Haying has not yet
begun. The acreage of forage crops would be increased if it were
not too wet to sow them. There is about an average acreage of
early potatoes, but they look very poorly. Prices for market-
garden crops good, but they are little grown. Dairy products
are fully up to past years in quantity and price. Pasturage is in
good condition since the rains came. There are very few straw-
berries ; blackberries are looking well.

Holden (G. S. Graham). — Potato bugs were plenty, but have
disappeared with the rains. Corn is looking yellow, and the

21

poorest ever known at this time of the year ; about the usual
acreage planted, and more planned for. No haying has been
done ; crop changed wonderfully, but still very light. There is
about the usual acreage of early potatoes, and many fields look
finely. Prices for dairy products hold up well ; so do prices for
cows ; supply about as usual. Pasturage has been wonderfully
improved by the rains. Strawberries are not very plenty.

Worcester (H. R. Kinney). — Potato bugs are doing some dam-
age. Indian corn is very yellow. Haying has not begun, but
grass has begun to grow some. The acreage of forage crops will
be increased if the land gets dry enough to work in season to put
them in. There is about an average acreage of early potatoes,
but they do not look as well as usual. Vegetables gave a light
yield, but have sold well. The quality of dairy products has been
good, with prices rather above the average. Pastures are in better
condition than usual. Fruit will be a light crop.

Southboro (E. F. Collins). — Potato bugs are doing some dam-
age. There is the usual acreage of Indian corn, but it is backward,
the late-planted not coming up well. Haying has not begun, but
there will be nearly a full crop. There will be the usual acreage
in forage crops. There is the usual acreage of early potatoes,
and they are looking well. There is much less milk made here
than formerly. Pasturage is in about the usual condition ; pas-
tures have deteriorated in the last twenty years. Apples will be
a fair crop ; peaches a total failure.

Auburn (Wm. Gilbert). — Indian corn is late, but may do well
with good weather ; acreage increased 20 per cent. There will be
a forty per cent increase in the acreage of forage crops. Acreage
of early potatoes about normal; the vines look well, but will be
late. More grain than usual has been fed, which has kept up the
flow of milk ; good cows are scarce, and higher than formerly.
Pastures look well since the rain, but need sunshine. Strawber-
ries were injured by drought, and are now rotting from too much
moisture, prices higher ; apples a light crop ; pears and grapes
promise well.

Mendon (J. J. Ndttkr). — Corn is looking poorly, with a small
acreage. Hay will be a light crop, and haying is now at a stand-
still. There will be no increase in tlie acreage of forage crops.
The acreage of early potatoes is larger than usual, but the pros-
pect for the crop is poor. Dairy products are fully up to former
years in quantity and price. Pasturage is in poor condition, but
is beginning to look better. No peaches ; pears looking fairly
well; strawberries poor ; small crop of apples.

22

MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

Sherborn (N. B. Douglas). — Potato bugs are doing some dam-
age. Indian corn is looking very badly ; too little water at first,
and too much now. What little hay was cut two weeks ago is
still out. The acreage of forage crops will be increased with suit-
able weather for sowing them. There is about the usual acreage
of early potatoes, but they have not come up well. Early peas
have sold high. Quantity of dairy products somewhat short, prices
M^her ; cows scarce and high. Pastures are improving. Drought
•and flood Lave ruined the strawberries ; other small fruits promise
well.

Maynard (L. H. Matnard). — Cut worms, onion maggots and
potato bugs are doing some damage. Corn looks badly, owing to
the long drought and very recent cold and wet weather. Haying
Jias not begun, and the crop will be short. The acreage of forage
erops will be increased. The acreage of potatoes is about the
.•same as usual, but the outlook is discouraging. Market-garden
•crops are in poor condition, owing to the long drought. Dairy
products are about normal in quantity and price ; very few cattle
have been sold recently. Pasturage looks well now, but has
suffered from drought. Small fruits and berries will be plenty.
Pepperell (P. J. Kemp). — Potato bugs are doing some damage.
Corn is very backward ; acreage increased one- third. No haying
done yet, and there is prospect for only half a crop, although
recent rains will help. The acreage of forage crops will be in-
creased 10 per cent. There is more than an average acreage of
early potatoes, but they are very backward, and promise only a
light crop. Market-garden crops are looking fairly well. Dairy
products are bringing better prices than for years ; cows are very
high. Pasturage has grown wonderfully since the rains. Straw-
berries were much injured by frost ; blackberries and other small
fruits look well.

Dunstable (A. J. Gilson). — There is no complaint of injurious
insects. Indian corn is very backward, with less than the usual
acreage. Haying has not commenced, and the prospect for the
crop is below the normal. The acreage of forage crops will be
about the same as usual. There are few early potatoes raised
here, but they are growing rapidly. Quantity of dairy products
about the same as usual, with prices more satisfactory; supply of
dairy cows small, and prices high. Pasturage is much improved
since the rains. The outlook for all kinds of fruit and berries is
very poor in this locality.

Chelmsford (P. P. Pekham). — Potato bugs are doing some

23

damage. Corn is very backward. Haying will be very late, with
nearly an average crop. The acreage of forage crops will be some-
what increased. There are less early potatoes planted than usual,
with a poor outlook for the crop. Market-garden crops promise
poorly. All kinds of dairy products are high, as are also cows.
Pastures look finely. There was a large crop of strawberries, but
they were ruined by the storm.

Carlisle (E. J. Carr) . — Potato bugs and tent caterpillars are
doing some damage. Indian corn is in poor condition, owing to
drought at first and excessive moisture at present. No haying has
been done, and there will be but a small crop. There will be an
increased acreage of forage crops, with fair weather for planting.
There is a decreased acreage of early potatoes, and they have come
up poorly and are not looking well. Yield of market-garden crops
small ; prices high. Quantity of dairy products about the same as
usual, and prices better ; cows scarce and high. Pastures are in
good condition. There was a poor crop of strawberries ; outlook
poor for apples, peaches and pears ; blackberries look well.

Billerica (G. P. Greenwood). — Rose bugs and wire worms are
doing serious damage. All corn except that planted very early on
warm land looks badly. Haying has not commenced, and there is
prospect of a two-thirds crop. The acreage of forage crops is in-
creased. Acreage of early potatoes small, and crop looking poorly.
Yield of market-garden crops small, and prices good. Dairy cows
are high, and it is hard to find good ones ; dairy products bring
higher prices than usual. Pasturage has been poor, but must im-
prove. There will be a fair crop of fall apples and pears ; bloom
of grapes light ; blackberries full.

TetvJcsbury (G. E. Crosby). — There is no special trouble from
insects. Indian corn came up very irregularly, and is growing
slowly. No hay has been cut. The acreage of forage crops will
be increased to some extent. There is a somewhat larger acreage
of early potatoes than usual; some fields are looking well, others
poorly. Yield of early market-garden crops average ; prices a
little higher than usual. Milk is plenty and prices high. Pas-
tures are in very good condition since the rains. Strawberries
are rotting, because of the rains; outlook for blackberries good.

Lincoln (C. S. Wheeler). — There are few insects. Indian
corn is very backward, but with increased acreage. Haying is
progressing very poorly, with the prospect of half a crop. The
acreage of forage crops will be increased if the weather permits.
There is about the usual acreage of early potatoes, and the prom-
ise for the crop is not more than fair. Asparagus made an aver-
age yield, and brought good prices. Quantity of dairy products

24

below the average ; prices a little higher, but not enough to bal-
ance the increased cost of feed ; prices of dairy cows generally
higher than usual. Pasturage is generally poor, and cattle are
mostly fed at the barns. Strawberries were less than an average
crop, with good prices.

Lexington (A. B. Smith). — There has been about the usual
acreage of corn planted, but it now looks as if there would be no
crop. There is no weather for haying, and the crop is not over
half a normal one. The acreage of forage crops will be greatly
increased. Acreage of early potatoes about the same as usual,
and the promise for the crop fair. On account of the season, the
yield, price and prospect for market-garden crops is discouraging.
Quantity and prices of dairy products about as last year, but cows
are a little higher. Pastures look promising since the rains. Fruits,
except winter apples, promise about average crops.

Newton (Otis Pettee). — There has been little damage from
insects. Acreage of Indian corn about the same as in past years,
but the crop is in need of warmer weather. A few hay fields on
moist land promise a fair crop, otherwise the crop is very light and
prematurely ripened. The acreage of forage crops will not be
materially increased. Early potatoes will give a light crop ; late
varieties promise much better. Early market-garden crops are
much below the normal in yield, but the prospect is rather better
for late crops. There is no material change from last year as
regards dairy products and cows. Pastures were very short, but
are now improving. Strawberries suffered from the May drought,
and have not recovered ; currants have set well, but need sunshine
to ripen.

ESSEX COUNTY.

Salisbury (Wesley Pettengill). — Insects have not done much
damage of late. Indian corn is looking poorly, because of cool
weather; acreage about average, but not as large as last year.
Haying has not begun, but there is prospect of a three-fourths
crop. Forage crops will show a latge increase in acreage. Early
potatoes are about average in acreage, and are looking well. The
prospect for market-garden crops is poor. Milk is plenty ; cows
are plenty, with no great demand. Pastures are looking well.
Strawberries started well, but the drought and heavy rains have
injured them considerably ; raspberries look well.

Ameshury (F. W. Sarcent). — Indian corn is very backward,
as the early planted came up poorly, and late planting has been
delayed. No haying has been done. Early weather conditions
promised a light crop, but rains have prevented sowing forage

25

crops as yet. Acreage of early potatoes average ; 25 per cent
loss in coming up, and balance do not promise well. Spinach has
been a fair crop ; asparagus half a crop or less ; other market-
garden crops generally poor. Dairy products same as last year
in quantity and price ; good cows scarce and high. Pastures suf-
fered from drought, but present indications are favorable. Rasp-
berries winter-killed ; strawberries wintered well, but drought and
frost injured them, and present conditions prevent ripening and
picking.

Groveland (A. S. Longfellow). — Cut worms and potato bugs
are doing some damage. Corn is very backward, with about the
usual acreage. Haying has not begun, and the prospect of the
crop has improved with the recent rains. Acreage of potatoes
about as usual. Prices of cows and dairy products are about the
same as in previous years. Pasturage is in good condition.
Strawberries are a poor crop ; raspberries and blackberries
promise well.

Newhury (G. W. Adams). — Canker worms are doing some
damage. Indian corn is yellow ; acreage about the same as usual.
Little haying done ; prospect for 30 per cent of a full crop. The
acreage of forage crops will be much increased. There is a full
acreage of early potatoes, but they were first frozen, then dried
up, and are now drowned. Market-garden crops are in bad con-
dition all around, with prices slightly higher. Quantity of dairy
products excessive ; cows in good supply and prices slightly lower.
Pastures in this immediate vicinity are in fair condition. Straw-
berries aud raspberries were badly hurt by drought; pears 10 per
cent and early apples about the same.

TFe?i^awi (N. P. Perkins). — Tent caterpillars, canker worms
and onion maggots are doing some damage. Corn is backward,
what with drought and then excessive moisture. Haying has pro-
gressed but little, but the crop is improving. The acreage of
early potatoes will be increased. Drought and excessive rains
have injured all market-garden crops. Potatoes are backward,
with the prospect of a poor crop. Price of dairy products slightly
increased ; supply of dairy cows equal to the demand. Pastures
are recovering and looking fairly well. There is an average crop
of strawberries; low blueberries not plenty, high ones better;
raspberries and currants promising.

Manchester (John Baker) . — Onion maggots and currant worm-
are doing some damage. Indian corn looks yellow and backs
ward; acreage average. Haying has not begun, but the prospect
for the crop has improved. The acreage of forage crops will not
be increased. Acreage of early potatoes average, and promise for

26

the crop poor. Early market-garden crops look very poorly ;
prices high as usual. Quantity of dairy products short, and
prices good ; dairy cows about twice as high as formerly. Pastur-
age is improving. Outlook for strawberries fair; blackberries
good.

NORFOLK COUNTY.

Randolph (R. A. Thayer). — Canker worms and squash bugs
are doing some damage. Corn is small for the season, with the
usual acreage. Ver^^ little hay has been cut, with much improve-
ment in the crop since the rains. The acreage of forage crops
will be increased. There is about the usual acreage of early pota-
toes, with most fields showing a very uneven stand. Peas and
strawberries about half crops ; late market-garden crops promise
well. Dairy products and dairy cows about as usual in price.
Pastures are much improved since the rains. Apples promise a
small crop.

Canton (E. V. Kinsley). — Rose bugs have appeared, and po-
tato bugs are as plenty as usual. Indian corn shows the usual
acreage, but is very late and poor. Haying is at a standstill ;
crop much better than was expected. Acreage of early potatoes
increased ; many fields in blossom, but vines look poorly. Not
many market-garden crops in the market as yet ; prices above
average. Milk is short in quantity, and about 6 per cent higher
than last year ; good dairy cows scarce, and $10 to $15 higher
than usiial. Pasturage has become excellent in the last few days.
Strawberries are a very poor crop ; blackberries excellent.

Norivood (F. A. Fales). — Potato bugs and squash bugs are
doing some damage. Corn is very backward, many fields having
been replanted ; acreage increased about one-fourth. Very little
haying has been done, and 60 per cent of a full crop is expected.
The acreage of forage crops will be increased 25 per cent. Acre-
age of early potatoes about the same as usual, but they are
very backward. Yield of market-garden crops small ; prices
about as usual. Fair quantity of milk, with price 3 cents per can
higher than last year ; cows 20 per cent higher. Pasturage is in
good condition. The wet weather is rotting strawberries.

Norfolk (A. D. Towne). — Cut worms, rose bugs and potato
bugs are doing some damage. Indian corn was mostl}' late
planted, and is backward ; acreage about 85 per cent of former
years. Haying has not commenced, and there will be a three-
fourths crop. Millet and Hungarian grass will be put in in
increased quantities. About 75 per cent of the potatoes planted

27

came up and promise a fair crop. Milk is 1^ cent per can higher
than last years ; cows 50 per cent higher, and scarce. There is
more feed in pastures than last month. There will be no peaches
or plums, and but few pears and apples ; grapes about half a crop.

Franklin (C. M. Allen). — Indian corn is looking very well,
considering the cold and wet weather; acreage increased 10 per
cent. No haying done, and a fair crop may be harvested. The
acreage of forage crops will probably be nearly doubled. Acre-
age of early potatoes same as usual ; looking well, but late ones
very inferior. Yield of early market-garden crops very poor, and
prices good. Pastures are in very good condition. Strawberries
have suffered from drought and then from moisture, and are not
half a crop.

Medioay (N. B. Stone). — Potato bugs are doing some damage.
Corn shows a very poor stand, but with acreage somewhat in-
creased. No haying has been done, but there is prospect of a
three-fourths crop. The acreage of forage crops is very much
increased. The acreage of early potatoes is about the same as
usual, and they look fairly well. Yield of early market-garden
crops average ; prices high ; later ones promise well. Quantity of
dairy products increased, and prices higher ; no traffic in cows, on
account of foot and mouth disease. Pasturage is in good average
condition. Strawberries are below average ; prospect for rasp-
berries and blueberries very good.

BRISTOL COUNTY.

Mansfield (Wm. C. Winter) . — Currant worms and "rose bugs
are doing some damage. The acreage of ludian corn is less than
usual, and the crop is looking very poorly. Little haying has been
done. The acreage of early potatoes is decreased, and the crop
looks rather poorly. Except peas and lettuce, there are few mar-
ket-garden crops ready for the market as yet ; peas bring higher
prices ; prospect for later crops fair. Quantity of dairy products
less ; prices about the same. Pastures are in fairly good condi-
tion. Pears good; apples fair; currants and blackberries good ;
plums, peaches and cherries none.

Norton (Wm. A. Lane). — Potato bugs are doing some damage.
Indian corn is looking poorly ; acreage about as usual. Haying
is late, with about a two-thirds crop. The acreage of forage crops
will be increased. There is about the same acreage of early pota-
toes as last year, and they are looking fairly well. Market-garden
crops need warm weather to start them. Dairy products bring

28

about the same prices as last year ; cows are high, and the supply
limited. Pastures are in good condition. Strawberries are a poor
crop, and injured by the wet weather.

Dighton (J. N. Paul). — Cut worms, potato bugs and onion
maggots are doing some damage. Acreage of corn as large as
usual, but it came up poorly and is backward in growth. Haying
has not commenced, and there will be about half a crop. The
acreage of forage crops will be increased. The acreage of early
potatoes is as usual, and the crop promises to be good. Early
market-garden crops made poor yields, with higher prices; later
crops do not promise well. Quantity and price of dairy products
about as usual ; dairy cows not plenty, and higher in price. Pas-
turage is in good condition. Apples good ; pears poor ; no peaches ;
raspberries badly winter-killed. The strawberry crop was a bad
failure, owing to the continued wet weather, which caused the
berries to rot both ripe and green, so that not half the crop prom-
ised was secured.

Swansea (F. Gr. Arnold). — Tent caterpillars and elm beetles
are doing some damage. Corn is late, and therefore short ; acre-
age greater than in previous years. No haying done yet ; prospect
fair on good land, old fields light. Forage crops will show an in-
creased acreage. Acreage of early potatoes about normal, but
they came up poorly, and are small. Milk is 10 cents per can
higher than formerly, supply equal to the demand ; cows are
scarce, and from SlO to $15 higher than formerly. Pastures are
in good condition. No peaches ; apples and pears set well ; straw-
berries have sold for good prices, but the yield is not a full one.

Westport (A. S. Sherman). — Rose bugs are doing some dam-
age. Indian corn is not doing well ; acreage about as usual. The
late rains will help the hay crop, but have prevented cutting.
Forage crops will have an increased acreage. Acreage of early
potatoes less than usual, and the promise of the crop is very poor.
Prices for early market-garden crops good, but prospect for later
ones injured by the cold weather. Prices for dairy products are
the same as in former years, but good cows are much higher.
Pastures are in very good condition indeed. Apples and pears
promise well ; peaches and cherries almost none ; strawberries are
yielding well, but the wet weather makes it difficult to pick them.

Dartmouth (L. T. Davis). — Potato bugs, squash bugs and
currant worms are doing some damage. The acreage of corn is
above the average, but it is uneven, and in very poor condition.
Very little haying has been done, and the crop is somewhat im-
proved since the rains. The acreage of forage crops will be in-
creased. Potatoes are very uneven, some fields being good and

29

others poor. Early market-garden crops made poor yields ;
prices a little higher than usual. Quantity of dairy products
below the average ; cows very high, and not the best in quality.
Pasturage is somewhat improved since the rains. Apples fair ;
peaches none ; some pears ; very few currants ; strawberries
medium.

PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

Norwell (H. A. Turner). — Tent caterpillars are doing some
damage. Indian corn is backward, with the usual acreage. Hay-
ing has hardly begun, and a light crop is in prospect. The acreage
of forage crops will not be much increased. Potatoes are looking
well, with the usual acreage. Dairy products bring the usual prices,
and cows are high. Since the rains pastures are looking well.
Strawberries are badly damaged by wet weather ; prospect good
for blueberries.

Brockton (Davis Copeland). — Striped squash bugs, onion
maggots and a maggot at the roots of cabbages are doing some
damage. Corn did not come up well, and does not look well. No
hay has been cut, but grass is growing since the rains, and a three-
fourths crop is promised. The acreage of forage crops is somewhat
increased. The acreage of early potatoes is about the same as
usual, and they are looking well. The yield of early market-
garden crops is below the average, with the usual prices, and the
prospect is rather dubious for late crops. The quantity of dairy
products has been light, with prices as usual ; cows are high. Pas-
tures ai'e looking better since the rains. The outlook for fruits
and berries is not very good.

Halifax (G. W. Hayward). — About the usual quantity of
Indian corn was planted, but it has not come up well, and does
not grow well. No haying has been done yet, and some have not
much to do. The acreage of forage crops must be increased, or
farmers will have to sell their stock. The acreage of early potatoes
is about the same as usual, but some were hurt by frost and dry
weather and the crop will be light. Pasturage is in very poor con-
dition, but the rains will help from now on. Strawberries are
about half a crop.

Kingston (Geo. L. Churchill). — Corn is looking small, and
the acreage is decreased one-half. Very little haying has been
done, and the yield will be less than usual. Early potatoes promise
a fair crop so far. Market-garden crops are very backward, but
those not yet ready are looking quite well. Dairy products are
fully up to the standard in quality and price. Pasturage is in very
good condition.

30

*

Lakeville (N. G. Staples). — Potato bugs are doing some dam-
age. Corn is looking rather slim, with about a 5 per cent increase
in acreage. Not much hay has been cut, and the crop will be light
on high laud. The acreage of early potatoes will be increased.
There is the usual acreage of early potatoes, and they are looking
ver\' well. Market-garden crops are about an average with former
years in yield and price. Dairy products are about as in former
years in yield and price ; cows have been high and scarce. Pas-
tures are in very good condition. Strawberries are a poor crop;
raspberries fair.

Rochester (G. H. Randal). — Cut worms, currant worms and
tent caterpillars have been very numerous, but have disappeared.
Indian corn is in very poor condition, as it did not come up well,
and the weather has since been cold and wet. There is scarcely
any hay cut, and the crop will be short. The acreage of forage
crops will be increased. There is a larger acreage of early pota-
toes than usual, and they are improved since the drought broke.
Yield of early market-garden crops below average, prices good ;
prospect for later ones more favorable. Prices for dairy products
good ; cows scarce, and higher than for several years. • Pasturage
is improving. Strawberries rotted on the vines, but what could
be secured brought good prices ; raspberries looking well ; cur
rants a very small crop.

BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

Falmouth (D. R. Wicks) . — Cut worms and potato bugs are
doing some damage. Corn is backward, but looking well ; very
little grown, compared with a few years ago. Grass has changed
since the rains, and it looks as though half a crop would be secured.
The acreage of forage crops will be increased. Early potatoes
show an increase in acreage, and are looking finely. Early market-
garden crops are very small crops in yield, prices about as usual ;
later crops look better. Quantity and price of dairy products
same as in former years. Pasturage is rather short, but is picking
up. Cranberries poor; raspberries good; blackberries fine ; cur-
rants a two-thirds crop ; half a crop of peaches and plums ; apples
set well, but dropped badly.

3Iashpee (W. F. Hammond). — Cut worms are doing some
damage. Indian corn is about the average in condition, and there
is a slight increase in acreage. Haying has not begun, on account
of stormy weather. There will be no special increase in the acreage
of forage crops. The acreage of early potatoes is about as usual.
Garden crops are below the average in yield, with prices higher.

31

The quantity and price of dairy products is about the same as
usual. Pastures are in good condition. Strawberries are a failure ;
raspberries above the average.

Dennis (Joshua Crowell). — Onion maggots and potato bugs
are doing some damage. Corn is not looking well, on account of
cold, wet weather ; acreage about the same as last year. Haying
has hardly commenced, and the crop is light. The acreage of
forage crops will not be much increased. Acreage of early potatoes
about as usual, but they are not looking well. Market-garden
crops are much below the average. Dairy products are about
average in quantity and price. Pastures are looking fairly well.
Strawberries a failure ; cranberries looking fairly well, although
somewhat damaged by frost.

Brewster (T. D. Sears). — Indian corn is looking quite well,
and the acreage is rather increased. The hay crop will be very
short. There will be no increase in the acreage of forage crops.
There is about the usual acreage of potatoes, and the crop promises
to be good. The quantity and price of dairy products are about
the same as in former years. Pasturage is very poor, but the
recent rains are bringing it up. Cranberries are about the only
berries grown for market, and the outlook is not good, on account
of the late frosts.

Chatham (E. Z. Ryder). — Insects are doing very little dam-
age at present. Corn in very backward, with a smaller acreage
than usual. The hay crop will be a failure upon uplands. The
acreage of forage crops will be somewhat increased. Market-
garden crops are backward, with poor prospects in yield. The
acreage of early potatoes is larger than usual, but the crop will be
light. Dairy products are much the same as usual in quantity and
price. Pastures are very much dried up. Strawberries were a
small crop ; blackberries and raspberries look well ; gooseberries
a fair crop.

Welljleet (E. S. Jacobs). — Tent caterpillars are doing some
damage. The drought has destroyed the corn crop in this locality.
The hay crop is very poor, except on low lands. The acreage of
forage crops will be increased. The rains of the past week have
been of great benefit to early potatoes. Early market-garden crops
are a failure, on account of drought. Prices are good for dairy
cows. Strawberries are a failure, owing to the damp weather just
when they were ripening ; all other fruit promises well.

32

DUKES COUNTY.

West Tishury (Geo. Hunt Luce). — Potato bugs and rose bugs
are doing some damage. Acreage of Indian corn about average,
but the weather is too cold and wet for its growth. Prospect for
hay crop fair, but haying has not begun. The acreage of forage
crops will be increased to some extent. Quantity and price of
dairy products above average ; cows high and scarce. Pastures
are in good condition. Strawberries poor; other fruit promises
well.

33

BULLETIN OF
MASSACHUSETTS BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

SUMMER MANAGEMENT OF THE DAIRY HERD.

By Prof. F. S. Cooley, Professor of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Massachu-
setts Agricultural College.

The severe early summer drought of the present season has
served to emphasize the need of a better average among our dairy
cows. It is apparent that some improvement has been made over
the stock of half a century ago for dairy purposes, but it is doubt-
ful if the quality has improved as fast as its need. It must be
borne in mmd that the world is moving, and that to stand still is
ruin. Competition is strong, and the cost of production is on the
increase. If the value of the product does not increase with the
cost of production, then dairying ceases to be profitable.

Probably the average cow in Massachusetts yields about 2,000
quarts of milk or 200 pounds of butter, worth from $50 to $60 at
present prices. With feeds costing what they have for the past
two seasons, this leaves little if any margin of proflt ; and where
cows fall below this average as half of them do, there must be very
little compensation for the time expended by farmers in their care.
Certainly the prevailing high wages offer strong inducements to
sell the cows and enter other pursuits for a cash compensation.

The hope for dairy salvation lies in keeping a better class of
cows. Where the average product is now 200 pounds of butter or
2,000 quarts of milk, it should be 300 to 400 pounds or 3,000 to
4,000 quarts. The feasibility of securing these higher yields has
been amply demonstrated by many carefully kept records. Com-
pare the value of the annual product of a dairy of 15 cows of aver-
age quality, which would amount to from $750 to $900, with the
possible $1,400 to $1,800 from the same number of a better grade.
Does any one believe that, after paying for the extra feed and
care, there would not be left a handsome margin of profit from
keeping the latter class?

34

The problem of securing the better grade of cows is for the
breeder to solve, and both he and the dairyman who buys his cows
all ready for business are too indifferent to the advantages of the
better class for their own best interests. I believe that the most
serious defect in the present breeding practice is lack of judicious
care in the selection of the bull. It is in the sire that we look for
superior qualities, and through him that we ought to expect im-
provemeut. It is well enough to select good cows for rearing
heifers, but whether their progeny is inferior, equal or superior to
themselves, depends on the sire. All too often the heifer is inferior
to her dam because got by an inferior bull. This fact is not given
the prominence it deserves, and even the use of pure-bred sires is
not sufficient ; for, unless the pure-bred bull inherits dairy qualities
of superior order, he has no power to transmit such qualities, even
though his blood be blue as the ocean and his pedigree long as the
moral law. I would emphasize first the necessity of quality and
inherited merit, afterwards the desirability of pure breeding and
uniformity. Breeders should take more pains to secure only first-
class bulls, and cow buyers should discriminate more sharply
against offerings not up to standard quality.

Perennial Dairying.

Another phase which dairying has assumed in recent years is
that of continued production throughout the year. Formerly sum-
mer dairying was prevalent, as it is now in the more remote
localities where pasturage is good. In Berkshire County, Ver-
mont, northern New York, and much of the northern Mississippi
valle}^ the summer dairy product far exceeds that of the winter
months. In olden times this was doubtless the best practice, if
not indeed the only possible one. It was nature's plan, and hus-
bandmen had not yet learned how to make artificial conditions
enough like summer nature to secure a winter milk flow of com-
mercial consequence. Moreover, the demand for dairy products,
as well as means of transportation, favored summer dairying.

A great change has been witnessed in the dairy season in the
last few decades. Large sections where formerly only summer
dairies were kept now make winter the principal season for prose-
cuting this business. In some instances this amounts to entire
suspeusion of dairying during the summer months. The Connect-
icut valley is a notable example of this transition. Here, on many
farms where large winter dairies are kept, the number of cows is
reduced to the minimum in summer, to allow the farmer the time
needed for tillage operations and work on special crops, such as

35

onions and tobacco. A more profitable system in most cases
would appear to be that of perennial dairying, for which these
reasons may be advanced.

First, where dairying does not continue throughout the year,
the market is general, and the prices of its products, if not low,
are not higher than those for the country at large. Producers
cannot secure private trade at the flush season unless they are
prepared to take care of their customers when the supply is short.
It is a business principle that the time to secure valuable trade is
when competitors find it difl3cult to provide for the wants of their
customers. To be able to furnish the goods at such times is to
demonstrate one's ability to do so at all times. So, in the butter
business, our best creameries and private dairies are able to defy
competition when they can furnish choice goods in uniform quan-
tity throughout the year ; while in proportion to the fluctuation in
their supply they are handicapped in finding satisfactory markets
for their products.

When the creamery, with a large private trade which pays sev-
eral cents more than the general market, finds its cream supply
cut down to a low figure, it must either drop a part of its trade, —
which once lost is not easily regained, — or else supply this trade
with purchased goods, — purchased at a high price in a short sea-
son. This latter method either reduces the profits on purchased
products to very little, and perhaps even to a loss, or else entails
the risk of dissatisfaction and loss of custom by the substitution
of other and inferior goods for those with which customers are
familiar.

If the creamery is co-operative, the patron's profit is less, be-
cause of a shrinkage in product when it is most needed ; if it is
proprietary, the price paid to patrons is regulated by the same
idea. With milk companies contracts are often made whereby
producers are paid for a regular product throughout the year, and
a lower price for the variable product above this minimum. Ob-
viously in this case the greater tlie fluctuation the larger the pro-
portion of milk which will bring the lower price.

Farmers frequently fail to hold good contracts, simply because
they do not take care of their customers in the pinch. Not only
do they fail to reap the benefit of high prices in seasons of scarcity
for a surplus product at that time, but are forced to accept lower
prices at all times, because of inability to keep contracts in the
pinch. Milkmen with private routes do better, but they also ex-
perience difficulties in holding trade without a regular uniform
supply of milk. It must be obvious, to the dairyman who has
carefully studied the possibilities of the business, that the highest

36

success as measured by the balance sheet is achieved by a peren-
nial supply of milk. To the careless and unprogressive farmer it
must also be clear that the profits from keeping cows are far from
satisfactory. It is my belief that far greater satisfaction than is
now felt would follow an earnest effort to maintain a constant and
regular milk flow throughout the twelve months.

In whole creamery districts in western Massachusetts I have
found fluctuations of from 30 to 60 per cent between the output of
the highest and the lowest months. The same fluctuation in a less
degree is experienced by the large milk companies of our cities.
This means that from one-third to one-half of the entire product
must be sold at the general market price, determined by the re-
ceipts from the country at large. This price will rule from 15 to
25 per cent lower than that obtained by constant perennial trade ;
in other words, not far from one-half of our dairy product is sold
at a price 20 per cent less than what might be obtained by a per-
fect distribution of the supply. This means an annual loss of 20
per cent of one-half of $13,000,000, or more than $1,000,000
which might be added to the farmers' profits by better manage-
ment and very little additional expense.

It is of course generally understood that the surplus season oc-
curs in May and June, while August and September are the dry
months. The great problem in dairy feeding and management,
it seems to me, is to transfer the June surplus to the September
deficit.

Winter feeding, so serious a problem a half-century ago, carried
on in the most primitive manner by the early settlers, has been
solved in a very satisfactory manner by combined experience and
scientific research. It has been so thoroughly systematized that
pasturage, the main dependence of former generations, is by com-
parison a difficult method. It is needless, therefore, to dwell upon
winter feeding and management at this time, but rather discuss the
more uncertain summer conditions.

When severe drought overtakes us at the commencement of
summer, as during the present season, it finds stockmen unpre-
pared, and their only way to overcome its effect is by drawing on
reserve supplies, or the liberal expenditure of money for purchase
of feeds. Such an unusual occurrence cannot be anticipated, and
any preparations to meet the contingency inaugurated after its
effects are apparent cannot bear fruit until too late, usually long
after the drought is broken.

It emphasizes the need of reserve supplies at all times, and of
not running too near the shore. It also brings out tlie advantage
of " floating capital," which may be used in tiding over times of

37

emergency. Farmers generally will appreciate the situation of
one of the fraternity, who, in comment upon the desirability
of floating capital, said, '' I can't make the dum stuff float."

In recent years the winter feeding season has been lengthened
out at both ends. Cows are brought in from the pastures earlier
than formerly, and it is no longer the practice of the best dairy-
men to turn them out while late snows are still on the ground.
Provision for feeding in the barn for a considerable time after cows
go to pasture is no^v the rule. Hay and grain are fed after the
cows come in from the pasture at night. Silage remaining from
the winter supply may be used, and early spring forage, to be fed
green, all s( i ve to make the transition from " hay to grass " less
of a shock than it used to be. Concerning forage crops for early
spring in our climate there is very little new to write. Winter rye
is a standard early crop, which may be fed between May 5 and
20. It is relished by cows until it begins to blossom, and does
not occupy the land when needed for summer tillage. It may be
used as a nurse crop for clover, or it is out of the way for corn
planting. Some judgment is needed in feeding it, or a strong
taste will be imparted to the milk. This taste seems to grow with
heavy rye feeding as the blossoming stage approaches. Winter
wheat and winter vetch may follow rye to the relish of cows, but
the uncertainty of a stand of the former and the cost of seed of
the latter, together with the abundance of pasture grass the latter
part of May, make their general use of doubtful economy.

Clovers are also valuable feeds at this season, and should be
grown to their fullest possible extent, for reasons too well known
to require statement. If not needed at the season of their matur-
ity as fodders, they are equally valuable to cure for winter forage.
But we are discussing supplementary feeds for May and June,
which in pasture sections are not needed. It is unusual to meet a
shortage at this season, but more often the problem of disposal of
surplus confronts us. The season of drought commonly begins in
July, and its effects are most apparent between that time and
October. At this season drought is not unusual, but the absence
of a shortage in atmospheric moisture is the exception. We may
safely anticipate a "dry spell" about four years out of five, and,
even if it does not materialize, the first flush of pasturage is gone
by mid-summer, and pastures no longer produce as abundantly
as earlier.

Every dairyman should anticipate these conditions, and be pre-
pared to meet them. Two general schemes may be considered by
farmers in this connection, namely, soiling and summer silage.
In a soiling scheme for late summer and early autumn, the prin-

38

cipal crops for this section are oats, millet, corn, clover, peas,
barley and rape.

Oats are sown in early spring on rich land, manured well the
preceding season, and are ready to feed about July 1. A succes-
sion may be secured to last through July by sowing at intervals
of a week or ten da^'S from April 15 to May 15. If Canada field
peas are sown with the oats, at the rate of about one bushel to the
acre, the value of the feed is materially increased. One acre of
land well managed should produce enough oats and peas to furnish
two- thirds of the roughage required by 15 cows for a month. With
a pasture capable of giving full feed to 15 cows in June, an acre
of oats should make full supplement for July ; but the dairyman
need not fear to over-produce this crop. Any suplus not needed
for summer feeding will be found equally valuable to cure as hay
for winter use.

Millet follows oats and peas. Probably the most useful variety
is the barnyard millet, although Hungarian and German millets
make valuable catch-crops. Barnyard millet sown on rich land
about the middle to last of May will be ready to feed by August 1
and be a very acceptable forage until corn has reached the milk
stage. An acre of good millet ought to keep 15 cows nearly
through August, supplemented by a moderate grain ration and
what the pasture produces, I should not advise growing a surplus
for hay, but should aim to feed the whole crop green, unless a
part of it could be turned to account for seed. Its use as silage
is permissible, but corn should be growu in preference for that
purpose.

Corn, the king of all forage crops for the corn belt, is not likely
to be supplanted by anything new, and its general use on dairy
farms should be realized to the fullest extent, both for green for-
age and as a silage crop. Its culture and use are too well known
to need extended discussion. Corn likes green farm manure better
than almost any other crop, because its season of most rapid growth
coincides with the season of most rapid nitrification of farm ma-
nures. They are well suited to each other. Liberal applications
of potash to corn crops are profitable. Wood ashes and the potash
salts are the standard sources of potash.

Clover enters into our late summer soiling scheme as a general
utility crop, to be grown as largely as possible, to be fed green if
needed in the absence of oats, millet or corn, or if they are in short
supply to be fed in conjunction with them. Whatever clover is not
needed in this connection is equally acceptable when hayed for
winter use.

Barley sown with peas, during the first half of August makes a

39

good feed for late fall, after frosts have stopped the use of corn
as green forage. We have experienced much difficulty in securing
a satisfactory crop of barley ; and, while it is relished by cows and
good for forage, it is not always a profitable crop.

Rcqje, although a rank grower, and relished by cows, belongs
to the cabbage, turnip and mustard family, which have been re-
garded with suspicion b}- milkmen, on account of the taste they
impart to dairy products. It is our belief that, used in modera-
tion, and fed after milking, it will not seriously aft'ect the quality
of milk, and it may become a valuable forage plant for fall feed-
ing. It may be fed to dry cows, hogs, young stock and horses, to
the saving of winter's stores, at all events.

Summer Silos.

There is much that might be said in favor of summer silos.
Undoubtedly the invested capital is somewhat greater where pro.
vision is made for ensiling a sufficient quantity of forage to supply
the dairy herd through the summer. Perhaps the summer silo will
even cost more for a given capacity than will a winter one, inas-
much as summer feeding takes cognizance both of the lessened
appetites of the cows and the greater rapidity of fermentation.
It becomes necessary, therefore, for summer feeding to materially
reduce the surface area from which silage is fed. One should so
limit the surface area for summer feeding that one and one-half
inches will be daily removed when the cow's appetite for silage is
lightest, and that the average feed will remove about two inches.
If this is not done, not only will there be a waste of fodder, owing
to excessive fermentation, but the quality of the whole feed dete-
riorates, even to a point of imparting undesirable flavors to the
milk.

Summer silage has a great advantage over green soiling crops
in the cost of production. With a heavy-jnelding silage crop like
Indian corn, allowed to mature and reach its maximum growth
and handled in a wholesale way by improved appliances, not only
is the expense per feeding unit much less than in soiling crops,
but the acre product is brought up close to the limit, and the rental
for land is thereby raised.

Summer silage appears to have another marked advantage over
green forage, in its uniform supply and quality. Properly cured
silage from ripe corn is very uniform in quality, and its use favors
a very regular and uniform milk flow. This is not a preconceived
notion of " book farmers," but has been substantiated by expe-
rience. On the other hand, green crops are not only fed at a con-
siderable expense for labor, but they fluctuate in supply and vary

40

greatly in quality. One part of a field may be infested by weeds
not relished by cows, which when fed cause a marked shrinkage
in milk. Seasons vary, the weather is bad, it is inconvenient to
take time for getting in green feed, and other reasons work against
its practical value.

The use of silage in summer is an approach to perennial winter
feeding, — a practice that is growing more and more common, but
which needs no exposition in this paper.

That pastures have grown poorer in many sections appears to
be a common opinion. Their uncertainty and irregularity of pro-
duction are largely responsible for the demand of this discussion.
The system that provides for supplementing our short pasturage
will incidentally produce great improvement in the pastures them-
selves. By the use of supplementary forage, pastures may carry
larger numbers of cattle, which will check wild growth, and enrich
the soil with droppings from additional feed. The farmer himself
will be more progressive, and will manage his pastures with greater
skill. Thus the prosperity of the farmer, which is the concern of
the Board of Agriculture and of agricultural education, will be
increased.

Series of 1903.

Bulletin No. 3.

MASSACHUSETTS

CEOP EEPOET

Month of July, 1903.

ISSUED BY

J. LEWIS ELLSWORTH,
Secretary State Board of Agriculture.

BOSTON :

WRIGHT & POTTER PHINTING CO., STATE PRINTERS,

18 Post Office Square.

1903.

Appeoted by
THE State Boakd of Publication.

Crop Eeport for the Month of July, 1903.

Office of State Board of Agriculture,
Boston, Mass., Aug. 1, 1903.

Bulletin Xo. 3, Crop Report for the month of eTuly, is
presented herewith. Particular attention is called to the
article at the close of the bulletin on " Bee Keeping : Its
Pleasures and Profits," by Dr. James B. Paige, professor
of veterinary science at the Massachusetts Agricultural
College. Professor Paig-e has devoted considerable time to
a careful study of the subject of bee keeping, and a course
on the subject, under his management, will be included in
the curriculum of the Massachusetts Agricultural College
during the coming academic year. The object of the present
article is rather to awaken an interest in the industrv than
to afford an exhaustive treatise on the entire subject of
apiary management.

Progress of the Season.

The July returns of the United States Department of
Agricultm-e (Crop Reporter for July, 1903) state that the
preliminary returns on the acreage of corn planted show it
to be about 89,800,000 acres, a decrease of 4,200,000 acres,
or 4.5 per cent, from the area planted last year, as revised
in December. The average condition of the growing crop
July 1 was 79.4, as compared with 87.5 last year, 81.3 in
1901, and a ten-year average of 89.8.

The average condition of winter wheat was 78.8, as com-
pared with 82.2 last month, 77 on the corresponding date
in 1902, 88.3 in 1901, and a ten-year average of 85.9. The
average condition of spring wheat was 82.5, as compared
with 95.9 last month, 92.4 last year, 95.(5 in 1901, and a
ten-year average of 85.9. The average condition of spring
and winter Avheat combined was 80, as compared with 82.9
last year, and 91.1 in 1901. The amount of wheat remain-

ing in the bands of farmers July 1 was estimated at about
42,500,000 bushels, eipivalent to about 6.8 per cent of the
crop of last year.

The average condition of the oat crop was 84.3, as com-
pared with 85.5 a month earlier, 92.1 last 3'^ear, 88.7 in
1901, and a ten-year average of 87.8.

The average condition of barley was 86.8, against 91.5
the previous month, 93.7 last year, 91.3 in 1901, and a ten-
year average of 87.3.

The average condition of winter 'rye Avas 90.2, as com-
pared with 91.2 last year, 93.6 in 1901, and a ten-year
average of 87.5. The average condition of spring rye was
88.3, as compared with 89.3 last year, 93.3 in 1901, and a
ten-3'ear average of 87.5.

The acreage of flax was less than that of last year by about
500,000 acres, or 13.5 per cent, and the condition was 86.2.

The acreage of tobacco was greater than that of last year
by about 7,000 acres, or 0.7 per cent, and the condition was
85.1.

The acreage of potatoes, excluding sweet potatoes, was
less than that of last year by about 49,000 acres, or 1.6 per
cent. The average condition of potatoes July 1 was 88.1,
as compared with 92.9 last year, 87.4 in 1901, and a ten-
year average of 92.6.

In Massachusetts the acreage of corn as compared with last
year was 96, and the average condition July 1, 65 ; the
average condition of oats, 88 ; the average condition of
winter rye, 85 : the average condition of spring rye, 98 :
the acreage of potatoes, 99, and the average condition, 84 ;
the acreage of tobacco, 105, and the average condition, 95 ;
the average condition of clover, 83 ; the average condition
of timothy, 78 ; the average condition of pasture, 87 ; the
average condition of apples, 58 ; the average condition of
peaches, 18 ; and the average condition of grapes, 69.

Temperatiike and RaijStfall for the Whole Country.

[From United States Climate and Crop Bulletins.]
Week endi)if/ June 29. — Except in North Dakota and the
northern portion of Minnesota the week was cooler than

usual in all districts east of the Rocky ^Mountains, being
decidedly cool in the central valleys, southern portions of the
Lake regions, ^Middle Atlantic States, New England and
over the interior portions of the Gulf and South Atlantic
States. Over the western portions of the middle Plateau
region, in central and northern California and in Oregon
the Aveek was warmer than usual. From the east Gulf
States northv>ard to the upper Ohio valle}^, lower Lake
region and ^Middle Atlantic States the rainfall exceeded the
average, except over limited areas. There Avas also more
than the average over a large part of the west Gulf States,
over local areas in the lower Missouri and central Missis-
sippi valleys and on the north Pacific coast. In New Eng-
land and generally throughout the central valleys the rainfall
was lighter than usual.

Week ending July 6. — In the lower Missouri valley and
in the districts east of the Mississippi River, with the excep-
tion of northern New England and a limited area on the
south Atlantic coast, where the temperature was slightly
below the average, the week was warmer than usual. On
the north Pacific coast, throughout the Plateau and Rocky
^Mountain regions, in the upper Missouri valley and in the
west Gulf States the Aveek averaged cooler than usual.
Heavy rains fell during the week from the Gulf coast north-
ward to eastern Kansas, over the western portion of the
Lake region and in the upper Mississippi, upper Missouri
and Red River valleys. Except over local areas there was
generally less than the average rainfall in the central Missis-
sippi and lower Ohio valleys and nortliern New England.

Week ending Jnlij 13.-^\\\ the central valleys. Lake
region, Atlantic coast districts north of the Carolinas, and
in the southern Rocky ^Mountain region the week was
warmer than usual. Along the south Atlantic and Gulf
coasts the temperature was slightly below the average.
From the ui)per Missouri valley Avestward to the Pacific
coast, including the middle Plateau and middle Pacific
coast regions, the Aveek Avas cooler than usual. Heavy
rains fell in the central and east (iulf States, and in ))<)r-
tions of the ^Middle Atlantic States and upper ^Iississii)pi

6

valle3% while areas of the upper Missouri and central Mis-
sissippi valleys received more than the a^'erage. "While
showers giving from one-half to more than one inch were
quite general in the Ohio valley, Tennessee and the Lake
region, the rainfall in these districts was mostly below the
average, and much less than the average was reported from
the western portion of Ncav England and the eastern por-
tion of the lower Lake region.

Week eliding July 20. — The week was cooler than usual
in all parts of the country, with the exception of the south-
eastern Rocky Mountain slope, portions of the middle Plateau
and a limited area on the central California coast, where the
temperature averaged normal or slightly above. In the dis-
tricts east of the Mississippi River the week was, for the
most part, comparatively cool, the temperature deficiency
in New England being from 5° to 7° per day. Generally
throughout the Gulf States the rainfall was below the aver-
age, and over much of the central and western districts there
was no appreciable amount. There was also less than the
average in the upper Ohio valley, central portions of the
Middle Atlantic States, northern New England and por-
tions of the Missouri and Mississippi vallej^s. Over the
greater part of the two last-mentioned districts, however,
and also in the Lake region there was more than the aver-
age rainfall, and also over much of the Carolinas, southern
New England, noi-thern portion of the Middle Atlantic
States, lower Ohio valley and southern Florida.

Special Telegraphic Reports.

[Weather Bureau, Boston.]

Week ending June 29. — New England. Boston :
Weather unfavorable, cool and damp until near close of
week, grass improved ; haying begun in south ; })otatoes
improved ; apples good though uneven and dropping to
some extent ; peaches poor ; strawberries short crop, other
berries good ; tobacco all set, some hoed, crop promising ;
grain uneven and below average ; corn poor and backward.

Week ending July 6. — Xew England, Boston : Week
generally favorable, average sunshine, moderate rains ; grass

and potatoes improving rapidly ; haying delayed in hopes
of better crop and time needed for cultivation ; hoed crops
and corn improving, but still poor ; apples dropping, but
balance will be of better cjuality ; pears, peaches, plums
and cherries light crops ; beans rusting ; tobacco growing
well.

Week ending Juhj 13. — New England. Boston: Ex-
ceptionally favorable weather ; potatoes in good condition,
growing well ; gardens improving, but late ; considerable
haying in south, better yield than anticipated ; small grain
improving ; rye being harvested in south ; corn making fast
growth but poor ; raspberries good ; blackberries promising ;
cranberries below average ; apples uneven, below average ;
tobacco good.

T^eeA; ending July 20. — New England. Boston :
Weather favorable for most crops ; haying somewhat de-
layed by showers and cloudiness, but much cut, average
yield, excellent quality ; oats and rye excellent ; half crop
rye cut ; potatoes and garden vegetables making good
growth ; corn improving and if frost holds off will be a fair
crop ; apples growing fast, some dropping ; raspberries fine ;
blackberries promising ; cranberries below average ; tobacco
excellent growth and condition.

Weather of July, 1903.
The weather of the month, generally speaking, was un-
eventful, and, for the greater part, of the mid-summer type.
The opening days were overcast, with occasional showers
and seasonal temperatures. These were followed by sev-
eral sunny days but with somewhat lower temperatures, the
nights especially ])eing cool. Little rain fell from the ()th
to the IStli, and the skies were generally clear to partly
cloudy. From the (Stli to the 12tli, inclusive, a warm wave
of considerable intensity prevailed, during Avhicli the maxi-
mum temperatures ranged in the 90s. The chief storm of
the month began on the 18th and continued throughout the
following day, giving general and quite heavy rains. A
season of showers and local storms followed the general dis-
tm'bance, lasting through the 2(lth. In some sections the

8

storms were attended by high winds, hail and severe electri-
cal discharges. The closing w^eek was pleasant, the weather,
with the exception of scattered showers, being fair, with
an abundance of sunshine. The temperature during the first
half of the month was in excess of the normal, while the
latter half was correspondingly cool. The final result was
a monthly mean temperature very near the normal. The
total rainfall of the month was considerably^ below the
normal. But on account of the fairly equitable distribution
throughout the period the deficiency was hardly noticeable
and not sufficient to retard crops or interrupt farm opera-
tions. July, as a whole, was a pleasant month, and crops
which suffered so much from the unseasonal and unfavor-
able weather of the preceding month were greatly improved.

In the circular to correspondents returnable July 23 the
following questions were asked : — ., , ,

1. What insects are proving most troublesome in your
locality ?

2. What is the condition of Indian corn, and what pro-
portion of the crop will be put into the silo ?

3. What is the quantity and quality of the hay crop as
compared with former years ?

4. AVhat forage crops are being raised to supplement the
hay crop, for the silo, and to eke out the pastures : what is
their condition and are more raised than usual?

5. What is the condition of market-garden crops, includ-
ing potatoes, and how have those already harvested com-
pared in yield and price with former years ?

(5. What is the prospect for apples, pears, peaches, plums,
quinces, grapes and cranberries ?

7. What is the condition of pasturage in j^our locality?

8. How have vye^ oats and barley compared with former
years, both as grain and forage crops ?

Returns have been received from 149 correspondents, and
from them the following summary has been made : —

Insects.
It is seldom that so little damage is reported from insects
at this time of year. Potato bugs are those most numerous,

9

but are apparently much le.ss injurious than usual. Other
insects reported are cut worms, cabbage and onion maggots,
black and striped squash bugs, currant worms, elm leaf
beetles, white grubs, cattle flies, horn flies, rose bugs, plant
lice, gypsy moths and cranberry vine worms.

Indian Corn.
Indian corn has improved somewhat during the month,
but it is still very uneven and backward, probably being-
two weeks behind the normal, with a poor stand, due to
poor germination of the seed. Warm, groAving weather for
the rest of the season is imperative to save a failure of the
crop, and in any case not more than a fair crop will be
obtained. Several corrcs})ondents report that late planted
fields are now" in advance of those planted earlier. It is
impossible to estimate the proportion of the crop grown for
ensilage, as it varies from very little in some localities to
almost the entire crop in many dairy sections.

The Hay Crop.
The frequent rains delayed haying and at the time of
making returns it was still uncompleted in many sections,
and considerable hay was caught out and seriously damaged.
The crop unproved during the month, so that nearly an
average crop will eventually he secured for the State as a
whole. Late cutting will, however, naturally operate to
reduce the quantity of the second crop. The quality of the
crop is generally reported to be good, although manj^ flelds
should have been cut earlier for l)est results.

Forage Crops.
Corn is the crop most raised for forage, and is closely fol-
lowed by the millets and Hungarian grass. Oats and barley
are the other forage crops extensively grown. Other for-
age crops mentioned are oats and peas, rye, peas, peas and
beans. Soy beans, buckwheat, barley and peas, rape and
vetch. Rather more of these crops than usual were planted
to supply the anticii)ated shortage in the hay crop. Corn is
backward, but the others are reported to be in excellent
condition.

10

Market-garden Crops.
Market-garden crops are generally backward, but are now
growing well and promise well for the future. Those already
harvested have mostly given light yields, but prices have
been higher than usual.

Early Potatoes.
At the time of making returns practically no early pota-
toes had been dug, but the crop was generally reported as
showing excellent promise. Prices received have been good
as far as reported, but are not yet established for the season.

Fruits.
As usual in a non-bearing year the midsummer drop has
greatly reduced the prospect for the apple crop, but it is
still above the average for the off year. Pears, cherries and
plums will be even lighter than expected, and there are
practically no peaches. Quinces and grapes promise some-
what better, although far from heavy crops. Cranberries
are likely to prove a short crop, o^ving to late frosts.

Pasturage .

The frequent rains have kept pastures green and growing,

and they have seldom been in better condition the last of

July.

Small Grains.

Rye, oats and barley have not been harvested to any ex-
tent, but promise well, notwithstanding some complaints of
rust and lodging. Oats and barley are mainly grown as
forage crops, and promise well for that pm'pose.

11

JS^OTES OF CORRESPONDENTS.

(Returned to us July 23.)

BERKSHIRE COUNTY.

Alford (L. T. Osbokne). — Insects are not plenty, only a few
potato bugs being in evidence. Corn is remarkably backward ;
three-fourths of the crop will be put into the silo. Hay is about a
three-fourths crop, with one-fourth of it not yet harvested. Corn
is about the only crop used as a forage crop. Potatoes promise
well. Market-garden crops are below the average in yield. The
prospect for apples is very poor, not over half a crop. Pasturage
is in very fair condition. Rye, oats and barley are average crops.

Tyringham (E. H. Slater). — Indian corn is in very poor con-
dition ; about one-fourth of the crop will go into the silo. The
recent rains will make the hay crop nearly an average one and it
is of excellent quality. Corn is the principal crop raised for the
silo, and Japanese millet is raised to some extent to eke out the
pastures. Market-garden crops are very late ; only a few potatoes
have been dug. There will be a fair supply of apples ; the pear
crop will be rather light. Pastures are looking well. Rye is little
raised ; oats are looking well both for grain and forage.

Becket (Wm. H. Snow). — Potato bugs are not very prevalent.
Indian corn is very backward and two-thirds of the crop will be
put into the silo. There is from two-thirds to an average hay
crop. Hungarian grass, oats and millet are the principal forage
crops grown. Potatoes look finely, but none have been harvested
as yet. Apples are dropping somewhat ; pears fair ; plums look-
ing well. Pasturage is in very good condition. Rye, oats and
barley are full average crops.

Peru (J. Z. Fkissell). — Potato bugs are doing some damage.
Corn is in good condition ; none raised for ensilage. Hay is a
full average crop in quantity and quality. Barley, Hungarian
grass and oats are the principal forage crops grown ; oats and
barley are in good condition, too much rain for Hungarian grass.
Potatoes are a good crop ; large yield and prices high. Apples
promise a good crop ; no other fruits. Pastures are in first class
condition. Rye, oats and barley are better than average crops.

12

Hinsdale (Thos. F. Barker). — Potato bugs are doing some
damage. Corn is in very poor condition, owing to poor seed,
drought and subsequent wet weather ; one-fourth of the crop is
raised for ensilage. Some have sown barley as a forage crop
where corn failed to grow and some buckwheat. The promise for
market-garden crops is very good and those already harvested
gave fair yields and average prices. Apples, pears and plums
promise good crops ; no peaches and but few quinces and grapes.
Pasturage is in very good condition. Rye, oats and barley promise
full average crops.

Hancock (C. H. Wells) . — Insects are doing no serious damage.
Indian corn is very small and backward ; none raised for the silo.
Hay is a full average crop in quantity and quality. Potatoes are
looking well, but none have been dug as yet. Apples and plums
are quite plenty. Pastures are looking finely. Rye, oats and
barley have not yet been cut for grain.

Lanesborough (Scott Jenks). — Potato bugs are doing some
damage. Indian corn is rather late but is growing rapidly ; not
many silos here. There is an average hay crop of first rate quality.
Corn is the principal forage crop grown and a trifle more than
usual has been put in. Market-garden crops are fully as good as
last year and prices are about the same. Apples will be a very
light crop; pears good ; plums medium. Pasturage is in the best
condition for some years at this season. Oats are in good con-
dition.

Cheshire (L. J. Northup). — Corn is not anywhere near the
normal, and the condition at this time indicates empty silos. The
quantity of the hay crop is about normal. Forage crops are in
good condition ; oats, millet, fodder corn and Hungarian grass are
being raised for that purpose. Market-garden crops are beginning
to be harvested ; yield about as usual ; too early to report on po-
tatoes. Apples are a light crop ; not many pears ; no peaches are
grown ; plums and quinces not plenty ; grapes just setting. Pas-
tures are domg fairly well and much improved since June 1. Rye,
oats and barley are good crops.

Florida (E D. Rice). — No insects are doing damage. Indian
corn looks very poorl}' ; only one silo in town. The hay crop is
about 8.5 per cent of an average crop in quantity. Corn, Hun-
garian grass, oats and millet are the principal forage crops grown.
Potatoes promise about 80 per cent of a normal yield. Apples
will give a fair crop ; not much other fruit grown. Pasturage is
in very good condition indeed. Oats are rusting badly.

13

FRANKLIN COUNTY.

Monroe (D. H. Sherman). — There are very few potato bugs,
ladiaa corn is very backward ; nearly all the crop goes into the
silo. Quantity of the hay crop about average ; quality good, but
little cut yet. Barnyard millet, oats, barley and Hungarian grass
are the forage crops raised ; more sown than usual ; mostly late,
but looking v/ell. Potatoes came up very uneven, but are looking
well. There are but few apples and they are falling badly ; no
peaches ; some plums. Pastures are in very fair condition. Rye,
oats and barley are little raised for grain.

Golrain (A. A. Smith). — Indian corn is late ; four-fifths of the
crop is raised for the silo. Hay is a full average crop in quantity
and quality. Corn, Hungarian grass and millet are raised for
forage crops and are looking well. Market-garden crops are in
good condition and those harvested are fully equal to former years
in yield and price. The prospect is fair for all kinds of fruit.
Pasturage is in good condition at the present time.

Bernardston (R. H. Cushman). — Potato bugs are doing some
damage. Corn is very backward and unpromising as a grain crop.
There is more hay than had been expected, a good average crop.
There are more forage crops growing than usual, with conditions
favorable. Potatoes are looking well. Garden vegetables are not
average in quantity. The prospect is good for a fair crop of
apples ; other fruits scarce. Pastures are in fine condition for the
time of year. Rye winter killed badly, but, with oats and barley,
has made a good growth.

Shelbiirne (G. E. Taylor). — There are but few potato bugs.
Corn is in all stages of growth, with a poor stand ; perhaps one-
sixth of the crop goes into the silo. The hay crop is the heaviest
ever grown and is of good quality. Sweet corn and Hungarian
grass are the principal forage crops grown. Potatoes look finely,
but none have been harvested. Pasturage is as fresh and green
as in the spring. Rye, oats and barley are not much grown.

Ashfield (Chas. Howes). — Cattle flies are annoying stock
somewhat. Indian corn is in very poor condition. A fine crop
of hay will be harvested, althougli it will be late. A considerable
acreage of oats, barley and Hungarian grass has been sown for
forage and is looking well. Potatoes promise a good crop ; gar-
den crops late. Pasturage is in very good condition. Rye, oats
and barley have made a very good growth, but are mostly raised
for forage.

Sunderland (J. M. J. Legate). — Potato bugs are doing some
damage. Corn is late, but has improved wonderfully in the past

14

few days ; half the crop will go into the silo. The hay crop is
fully an average in quantity, but will hardly be average in quality.
Very little is raised for forage except corn, and no more has been
put in than usual. Potatoes are looking well ; other market-garden
crops below average in yield but have brought good prices. There
will be a light apple crop, but the prospect is very poor for other
fruits. There is plenty of feed in pastures, but it is not very good.
Practically no rye, oats or barley are raised. Tobacco is late and
the early set is spindling and cannot make anything but a light
crop ; the later set is looking much better. Onions are improving
and should make nearly an average crop.

Wendell (N. D. Plumb). — Potato bugs and cut worms are doing
some damage. Corn is very backward ; about half the crop is
raised for ensilage. Hay is about a normal crop, but is somewhat
backward. Hungarian and oats are the principal forage crops and
there is every prospect that they will make a large growth. Po-
tatoes are selling for Si. 50 per bushel; few other market-garden
crops are ready for the market. Apples promise a normal crop ;
peaches and plums are a failure. The continual rains have revived
old pastures greatly and they are in good condition. Oats and
barley never were better, either as grain or forage crops.

Orange (A. C. White). — There are the usual insects present.
Indian corn is in very poor condition, as it came up poorly and
many turned it under and put in other crops ; three-fourths of the
crop goes into the silo. Hay is fully an average crop and the
quality of that cut has been prime. The millets and Hungarian
grass are the principal forage crops and are looking finely, with a
25 per cent increase of acreage. The prospect is not very good
for fruit of any kind. Pasturage is in normal condition. Rye,
oats and barley promise well.

New Salem (Daniel Ballard). — Potato bugs are doing some
damage. Indian corn is very backward with a poor stand ; but a
small proportion of the crop will be put into the silo. Haying has
been much delayed by rainy weather and but little has been cut ;
quantity much increased. Corn, oats and Hungarian grass are the
principal forage crops grown and the two latter are looking well,
with increased acreage for all. Potatoes are looking well, but
none have been harvested. There will be a light crop of all fiuits.
Pastures are very much improved by the rains and are holding out
well. Rye, oats and barley made fair average yields.

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.
Prescott (W. F. Wendermuth). — Potato bugs are doing some
damage. Indian corn is very backward ; there are but two or

15

three silos in town. Hay will be from two- thirds to three-fourths
of a full crop of more than average quality. Fodder corn, barley,
oats and the millets are the principal forage crops ; condition
good, except corn, and nearly double the usual acreage. Potatoes
promise to be an average crop. Apples will be a very light crop
as it is the off year. Pasturage is in good condition. Rye, oats
and barley are full average crops, but are little grown for grain.
Beans have rusted badly. Vines, especially melons and cucum-
bers, are dying very rapidly.

Enfield (D. O. Chickering). — There is no special trouble from
insects. Corn is very backward ; a small proportion if any of the
crop goes into the silo. The hay crop compares favorably with
former years in quantity and quality. Potatoes are backward and
none have been marketed as yet. There will be but a small amount
of fruit of any kind. Pastures are in good condition. Rye, oats
and barley are about average crops, both for grain and forage.

Belchertown (H. C. West). — Potato bugs are doing a little
damage. Corn is now growing well and looks finely, but is two
weeks late ; very little will go into the silo. Hay is very nearly
up to a normal crop in both quantity and quality. Oats, millet
and fodder corn, with some Hungarian grass, are the forage crops
grown ; all are growing finely and more than usual have been
sown. Potatoes promise finely ; other market-garden crops not
up to the average. Apples fair; no pears; very few peaches,
plums and quinces ; grapes fair. Pasturage is in very good con-
dition, having made wonderful improvement. Rye, oats and bar-
ley are nearly average crops.

Amherst (Wm. P. Brooks). — Onion and cabbage maggots are
doing some damage. Corn is very uneven, being mostly poor and
exceptionally small for the season ; few fields will ripen unless
weather is unusually hot during the balance of the season. Yield
of hay about average and quality good, though better harvest
weather is needed. Japanese barnyard millet, corn, oats and
peas, barley and peas and sand vetch, to a limited extent, are the
forage crops grown. Potatoes promise exceptionally well ; market-
garden crops, except cucumbers and melons, good ; prices about
average. Apples uneven, but promise very well ; pears few ; no
peaches; plums light; grapes promise well. Pasturage is in ex-
cellent condition. Rye light ; oats are rusting. Tobacco looks
well. Onions very uneven ; many fields thin owing to maggots.

Northampton (H. C. Comins). — Potato bugs are our most
troublesome insect. Indian corn is very backward and poorly
stocked ; approximately one-fifth of the crop will be put into the
silo. The hay crop is as large as last year in quantity and of good

16

quality. Corn is tlie principal crop raised for the silo and green
feeding. Garden crops are very poor ; potatoes late and very
uneven. There will be few apples and pears ; no peaches ; few
plums and quinces ; grapes fair. Pastures are in fine condition.
Rye, oats and barley are fairly good crops. Tobacco is topping
out low, but it is too early to determine what the crop will be.
Onions are looking poorly.

Southampton (C. B. Lyman). — Potato bugs are doing some
damage. Indian corn is about 60 per cent in condition ; only a
small part is used for ensilage. Hay is a full average crop in
quantity and quality. Corn and Hungarian grass are the princi-
pal forage crops grown. Market-garden crops are in fair condi-
tion ; no potatoes dug as yet. Fruit will be a light crop for all
kinds. Pastures are in very good condition. Rye, oats and barley
are full average crops.

Chesterfield (Horatio Bisbee). — No insects, not even potato
bugs, have been particularly harmful this season. Corn is very
small and backward and the prospect is poor. Hay compares well
with a normal crop both in quantity and quality. Corn and Hun-
garian grass are the principal forage crops grown ; corn backward
and Hungarian not far advanced as yet. The prospect for apples
is fair for an off year ; other fruits little raised. Pastures are in
good condition. Rye, oats and barley are good crops, both for
grain and forage.

Goshen (Alvan Barrus). — Indian corn is late and small for
the season ; more than half will go into the silo or be .fed green.
The hay crop is fair in quantity, but below average in quality.
Little else beside corn is raised as a forage crop. Kitchen gar-
dens are in very poor condition. No peaches ; other fruits below
par. Pasturage is in fairly good condition. Rye and oats promise
fair crops ; the excess of wet weather caused barley to blight.

Cummington (S. W. Clark). — We have had very little trouble
from insects. Indian corn is very late; some has been plowed
under and the land used for forage crops ; little if any will ripen.
Hay is about a normal crop of fine quality. Hungarian is the
main forage crop raised ; condition good and acreage rather in-
creased. Potatoes are generally uneven ; market-garden crops
nearly normal. Apples look well for an off year ; other fruit not
much raised. Pastures are in very good condition. Rye, oats
and barley are nearly all raised for forage and look fairly well.

HAMPDEN COUNTY.
Tolland (E. M. Moore) . — Potato bugs are doing some damage.
Corn is almost a failure ; only a small proportion of the crop will

be put into the silo. There will be about three-fourths of a, nornuil
hay crop of very good quality. Millet and corn are the principal
forage crops. Early potatoes are looking fairly well. Apples are
dropping badly and there will not be more than 40 per cent of an
average crop. There is plenty of feed in the pastures.

Russell (E. D. Parks). — Potato bugs are doing some damage.
Indian corn is doing nicely now, but was backward in starting ;
but very little is raised for ensilage. Hay will be an average crop.
Millet and fodder corn are the principal forage crops raised.
Market-garden crops are fairly good, but those harvested have
been below the average in yield and price. All fruits are in fairly
good condition. Pastures are in better condition than is usual at
this time of year. Rye, oats and barley are about average crops.

Sonthwick (L. A. Fowler). — No insects are doing much dam-
age. Indian corn is backward ; probably one-fourth the crop is
raised for ensilage. The quantity of the hay crop has been a great
surprise, being better than usual. Hungarian grass, millet and
sweet corn are the principal forage crops grown ; condition good
with acreage increased. Market-garden crops suffered from drought
early in the season, but are looking fairly well at present. Some
fields of potatoes look well, while others promise poor returns.
Pasturage was never in better condition. Rye, oats and barley
promise well.

West Springfield (N. T. Smith). — Maggots have damaged cab-
bages, Swedish turnips and onions. Indian corn is backward,
the early planted coming up poorly ; late planted looks well and if
the season is long enough will give a good crop ; 30 per cent of
the crop will go into the silo. The hay crop as a whole compares
favorably with an average crop. Japanese millet, Hungarian
grass, corn and barley are the principal forage crops grown ; look-
ing well with a small increase in acreage. Market-garden crops
are not up to the average ; those already harvested are about
average in yield and price. Apples will give a light crop ; no
peaches ; pears few ; no quinces or cranberries. Pasturage is
in unusually good condition for the time of year. Rye, oats and
barley promise about average crops.

Ckicopee (R. W. Bemis). — The elm leaf beetle is doing some
damage, but is not as numerous as usual. Some fields of corn are
looking finely, others quite the reverse. There will l)e a good
crop of hay secured. Corn is used to help out the hay crop more
than any other forage crop. Condition of market-garden crops
good and prices higher than usual. Apples are dropping badly.
Pasturage has been good so far this season. Rye, oats and
barley are good crops, both for grain and forage.

18

East Longmeadoio (J. L. Davis). — Corn is very backward;
there are only three or four silos in town. Hay is a three-fourths
crop and has grown a great deal in the past two weeks, but the
quality is not of the best. Oats, barley, millet and Hungarian
grass, with some buckwheat, are the forage crops grown ; acreage
increased. Market-garden crops are very uneven in yield, but
prices have been above the average. Apples, pears and peaches
are poor crops ; grapes plenty. Pasturage is in first class condi-
tion. Rye is an average crop and oats a three-fourths crop.

Hampden (J. N. Isham). — Potato bugs are the only insect
noticed. The corn crop as a whole is not looking first class, but
present weather is favorable. Late rains have benefited the hay
crop so that it is nearly average in quantity and of good quality.
Fodder corn is the principal forage crop, with some oats and peas ;
more than usual raised and generally in fine condition. Garden
crops are late ; potatoes promise a good crop, very few dug. Fall
apples promise well ; pears light ; peaches, plums and quinces
scarce ; grapes set well. Pasturage is growing now as well as at
any time this season. Both rye and oats are scant crops.

Monson (F. D. Rogers). — Plant lice are doing some damage.
Indian corn is very backward ; probably one-third of the crop will
go into the silo. Hay is an average crop, but is much finer than
usual and therefore better for milch cows. Corn, millet and barley
are the principal forage crops grown. Market-garden crops are
looking well but are backward. There will be very little tree fruit.
Pasturage is in fairly good condition. Rye, oats and barley are
mostly cut for hay and have made a good growth.

Holland (Francis Wight). — Potato bugs are doing some dam-
age. Indian corn is very backward for the time of year ; about
one-sixth of the crop will be put into the silo. Hay is not quite
an average crop in quantity, but is of average quality. Corn, oats
and Hungarian grass are the principal forage crops grown ; con-
dition good and more raised than usual. Potatoes are looking
well, but not many have been dug as yet. Apples, pears, peaches
and plums will give very light crops ; grapes and quinces average.
The feed in pastures is green and good. Rye, oats and barley
will be full average crops.

WORCESTER COUNTY.

Brookfield (F. E. Puouty). — Potato bugs are the only insect
troubling us. Indian corn is very backward. Hay is a good crop
in both quantity and quality. Japanese millet and barley are the
principal forage crops grown ; condition good and a great deal
more raised than formerly. Market-garden crops are in good con-

19

dition. Only a few apples promised ; pears about average ; peaches,
plums and quinces little raised ; grapes a fair crop ; cranberries
all killed by high water. Pastures are in good condition. Rye,
oats and barley promise good crops.

North Brookjiekl (J. H. Lane). —The potato bug is doing sonie
damage. Indian corn is generally in very poor condition ; prob-
ably 80 per cent of the crop will go into the silo. Hay is a full
crop both in quantity and quality. Hungarian grass, millet, bar-
ley and oats are the principal forage crops grown ; oats, if early,
are good ; barley, if late, is very poor. Yield of market-garden
crops fair and prices good. Apples will give 10 per cent of a
normal crop ; pears, 5 per cent ; no peaches, plums or quinces ;
grapes, 20 per cent. Pasturage is in fine condition.

Z>a?ia (Lyman Randall). — Potato bugs and cut worms are
doing some damage. Corn is uneven and backward ; not more
than 10 per cent of the crop will go into the silo. There will be
more than an average crop of hay. Corn is the principal forage
crop raised and more was planted for that purpose than usual.
Market-garden crops are mostly poor ; potatoes are giving a good
yield and bringing more than average prices. Apples and pears
are about half crops ; peaches, plums and quinces none ; grapes
and cranberries two-thirds crops. Pastures are now in good con-
dition. Rye is not a very good crop ; oats and barley average.

Royalston (C. A. Stimson). — Potato bugs and striped squash
bugs are doing some damage. Indian corn is small and backward ;
two-thirds of the crop will be used for ensilage. Hay is more than
an average crop in both quantity and quality. Oats, barley and
millet are the principal forage crops grown ; condition good
and more than usual raised. All market-garden crops are light
and prices high. Few apples and pears ; no peaches ; good crop
of plums and grapes. Pasturage is in good condition. Rye, oats
and barley promise good yields, but none have been cut for grain
as yet.

Winchendon (Arthur Stockwell) . — Potato bugs are doing
some damage. Corn is very backward. There is a large hay crop
in this section. Hungarian grass and oats are the principal forage
crops grown. Market-garden crops are in good condition, with
prices about the same as last year. There will be a fair crop of
all kinds of fruit. Pasturage is in good condition. Rye, oats
and barley are about average crops.

Fitcliburg ( Jabez Fisher) . — Corn is late but of a bette'r color
than previously. There will be fully three-fourths of an average
crop of hay. The yield of most market-garden crops has been
small and prices high. Apples, pears, plums and grapes will not

20

give over one-third of an average crop ; no peaches. Pasturage is
in very good condition just now. The extremes of drought, flood,
heat and cold have not been favorable for healthy growth of most
crops.

- Westminster (A. J. Foskett). — Not much trouble from insects.
Corn is rather backward but is in good condition. The hay crop
is of good quality and rather larger yield than usual. More fodder
corn than usual has been planted and it is in good condition.
Market-garden crops are rather below the average in condition,
but bring good prices. The prospect is good for a fair crop of
apples only. Pastures are in the very best condition. Rye, oats
and barley promise favorably.

Harvard (J. S. Preston). — No insects doing damage. Indian
corn is very backward ; not over half the crop will ear out and not
half of that will mature. The hay crop is the largest for a number
of years and is of good quality. Fodder corn, Hungarian grass,
oats, with some rye and millet, are the forage crops grown ; corn
backward, oats ready to cut and Hungarian soon will be. Gar-
den crops of all kinds are almost a failure. Apples very light ;
practically no pears, peaches, plums or quinces. Pasturage is in
better condition than is usual at this time of year. Rye, oats and
barley are only raised for forage.

Sterling^ (H. S. Sawyer). — Potato bugs are doing some damage.
Indian corn is very backward ; one-third of the crop will be put into
the silo. Flay is an average crop in quantity and quality. Bar-
ley, Hungarian grass and oats are the principal forage crops and
more will be raised than usual. Potatoes are generally very back-
ward. Apples and pears promise fair crops; other fruits will be
scarce. Pastures are in good condition since the rains.

Worcester (H. R. Kinney). — The potato bug is calling for the
most attention of any insect. Indian corn is very late but some
fields that were planted very late are looking all right ; most of it is
for the silo. There is a fair to good hay crop of good quality.
Japanese millet seems to be the most popular forage crop and is
looking fairly well. Market-garden crops have given a light yield,
but prices have ruled high. Apples promise fairly for an off year ;
pears fair; peaches, plums and quinces and grapes good. Pas-
turage is in good condition. Rye was a light crop ; oats fair,
mostly cut green.

Shreioshury (F. J. Reed) . — Potato bugs are doing some damage.
Corn is not looking very well. Hay is a two-thirds crop of very
good quality. Fodder corn, oats, millet, Hungarian grass and
barley are the forage crops grown. Market-garden crops are
poor ; potatoes good ; yield of market-garden crops already har-

21

veBted light with prices a little liigher than usual. Prospect for
apples and pears good. Pastures arc in very good condition.
Rye, oats and barley are looking well.

Millbiiry (Herbert McCracken). — Potato bugs are doing some
damage. Indian corn is very backward ; perhaps half the crop
will go into the silo. Quantity of the hay crop nearly average and
quality excellent. Fodder corn, millet and barley are the forage
crops grown ; condition of corn not very good ; acreage about the
same as usual. Potatoes backward, injured by heavy rains, not
harvested yet. There is about half a crop of apples and pears ;
no peaches ; fair yield of plums, quinces and grapes ; cranberries
just blossoming. Pasturage is in excellent condition. Rye, oats
and barley promise well.

Oxford (D. M. Howe). — Corn is very uneven and most of it
will go into the silo. Hay is about an average crop in quantity
and quality. Japanese millet is quite largely grown for forage and
some sow corn to mow green. Market-garden crops are very
backward. Apples and pears are few ; plums, quinces and grapes
fair. Pastures are now in good condition. Rye, oats and barley
are average crops. All crops are coming forward with the rains
and warmer weather.

Mendon (J. J. Nutter). — Potato bugs and striped squash bugs
are doing some damage. Corn is poor and backward. Hay is
good when well cured and is nearly an average crop in quantity.
Millet, oats and corn are the forage crops grown ; oats and corn
are looking well ; more raised than usual. Potatoes are looking
well, not many harvested as yet. There will be a small crop of
apples ; pears look quite well ; no peaches ; some grapes and a
few plums. The frequent rains have improved the pasturage.
Rye, oats and barley are little grown.

MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

Hopkinton (W. V. Thompson). — Corn is about three weeks
late ; about half the crop is raised for the silo. Hay is about an
average crop in quantity and quality, but is not all secured as yet.
Hungarian grass and Japanese millet are looking well but are
late. Not many market-garden crops raised ; potatoes look well.
Apples light crop ; pears good ; no peaches or plums ; grapes a
very small crop. Pastures are in good condition. Oats are a good
crop ; other grains not much raised.

Marlborough (E. D. Howe). — Potato bugs, striped squash
bugs and horn flies are causing some trouble. Indian corn is
three weeks late and very uneven ; nine-tenths of the crop will
be used for ensilage. The hay crop is better than many antici-

22

pated and is nearly an average crop. Millet, barley, rye and oats
are the principal forage crops ; condition good and about the usual
acreage raised. All vegetables are backward and scarce and bring
high prices ; potatoes are better than other vegetables. Apples
60 per cent of a full crop ; pease 30 per cent ; no peaches ; plums
a full crop ; quinces 75 per cent; grapes 75 per cent. Pasturage
is in better condition than is usual at this season. Rye, oats and
barley are average crops.

Stow (Geo. W. Bradley). — Potato bugs, cut worms and white
grubs are doing some damage. Indian corn is in very poor con-
dition for the time of year. Hay is about a three-fourths crop of
good quality. Oats, Hungarian grass and Japanese millet are the
principal forage crops grown and all need warmer weather. There
arc no market-garden crops to speak of ; late potatoes look fairly
well. Tlie prospect is not very good for fruit of any kind. Pas-
turage is in very good condition at present. Oats are better than
last year ; no rye or barley raised. A few squashes and cucum-
bers for pickling were planted, but they are not up to the average
in condition,

Dunstable (A. J. Gilson). — Potato bugs and currant worms
are doing some damage. Indian corn is very backward ; only a
small percentage of the crop is put into the silo. The hay crop is
about normal in quantity and of good quality. Corn, oats and
Hungarian grass are the principal forage crops grown ; condi-
tion good, except for corn. No market-garden crops raised and
no potatoes harvested. The prospect for all kinds of fruit is very
light. Pasturage is in good condition. Rye, oats and barley
compare well with former years and are mostly raised for for-
age.

Westford (J. W. Fletcher) , — Corn is below the average in
condition ; about half the crop is raised for ensilage. Hay is
more than an average crop. About the same acreage of forage
crops is being raised as usual, and they are in good condition.
Potatoes are a short crop, being small and few in the hill. Pas-
tures are in good condition. Rye, oats and barley are good as
forage crops, but poor for grain.

Concord (Wm. H. Hunt). — There is less trouble from the
asparagus beetle than usual. Indian corn is still very backward.
The hay crop is much better than usual. Fodder corn, oats and
millet are the principal forage crops grown ; corn is doing poorly
and oats and millet fairly well. Potatoes are looking well ; as-
paragus did well and strawberries poorly. There will be a small
crop of apples and pears ; no peaches ; few plums and quinces ;
grapes as usual. Pasturage was badly dried up by the early

23

•

drought, but is recovering now. Rye, oats and barley are not
quite up to the average.

Billerica (Geo. P. Greenwood). — We seem to be unusually
free from insects at the present time. Corn of all kinds is looking
badly ; a large part of the crop is grown for the silo. There is a
full hay crop and the quality is good. About the same amount as
usual of corn and millet is grown for forage. Market-garden
crops are in poor condition and bring high prices. Fruit of all
kinds will bis a very light crop. Pastures are in good condition.
Rye, oats and barley are but little grown.

Lincoln (C. S. Wheeler). — Potato bugs are the only insects
doing damage. Corn is very backward ; probably none will be
put into the silo. Hay is about a three-fourths crop and the quality
is below the average. Hungarian grass, Japanese millet, corn and
barley are the principal forage crops grown. Market-garden crops
are backward ; potatoes fair ; sweet corn poor. There is a very
light crop of apples ; no peaches ; few pears and plums ; grapes
hardly fair. Pastures are in good condition where the brush has
been kept down. Rye, oats and barley are not raised for grain
and are about average for forage.

Stoneham (J. E. Wiley). — Onion and cabbage maggots are
doing some damage. Indian corn is little raised. The hay crop
is a fair average both as to quantity and quality. Fodder corn is
the principal forage crop grown and is in good condition. Market-
garden crops are backward, but bring higher prices than usual;
potatoes are looking well. Apples and grapes poor ; pears fair.
Pastures are in good condition. Rye, oats and barley are not
much raised.

Arlington (W. W. Rawson). — The hay crop is more than an
average one. Market-garden crops are late, but are looking finely
and give good promise for good crops.

Newton (Otis Pettee). — Indian corn is looking well; about
the same proportion of the crop as last year will go into the silo.
Hay is about 75 or 80 per cent of a normal crop in quantity and is
of good quality. Oats, corn and some millet and Hungarian grass
are raised for forage. Market-garden crops promise fairly well.
Pasturage is in very good condition.

ESSEX COUNTY.
Salisbury (Wesley Pettengill) . — Potato bugs are doing the
most damage of any insect, but squash bugs are quite plenty.
Corn is rather small and backward, but has made rapid growtli of
late ; none put into the silo. Hay is nearly an average crop and
was secured in good condition. Fodder corn, barley, millet and

24

•

Hungarian grass are the principal forage crops raised, and rather
more tlian usual have been put in. Garden crops are looking very
well. Early potatoes look fairly well, but are poor on low lands.
Apples are looking well for an off year ; pears good ; no peaches ;
plums rather light ; grapes very few. Pastures are in fine condi-
tion. Rye, oats and barley are little raised for grain, but are
average as forage crops.

Haverhill (Eben Webster). — Potato bugs and white grubs are
doing some damage. Indian corn is late and backward and three-
fourths of the crop will go into the silo. The hay crop is some-
what below the normal in quantity, but is of good quality. Corn
and oats are the principal forage crops grown. The yield of mar-
ket-garden crops is less than usual with prices higher. The pros-
pect is poor for all kinds of fruits. Pastures are in good condition.
Rye, oats and barley are not grown as grain crops.

Groveland (A. S. Longfellow). — Potato bugs are doing some
damage. Indian corn is looking well and growing fast, but is still
rather backward. About 15 per cent of the crop will go into the
silo. The hay crop is nearly an average one in quantity ; quality of
that secured good, much uncut as yet. Oats, corn and Hungarian
grass are the forage crops grown ; condition fairly good ; acreage
somewhat increased. Potatoes are looking fairly well but are
backward ; yield of market-garden crops light and prices better
than usual. Apples poor ; pears fair ; no peaches or plums.
Pasturage is in very good condition for the time of year. Rye and
barley are fully up to the average in yield, but are badly lodged
and somewhat rusted.

Roivley (D. H. O'Brien). — Onion maggots and striped squash
bugs are doing some damage. Corn is in very poor condition ;
not over one-tenth of the crop will go into the silo. The hay crop
is the best for many years. Corn and Hungarian grass are raised
as supplementary forage crops in about the usual amounts, but are
in poor condition. Market-garden crops are in poor condition ; no
potatoes harvested as yet. There are a few apples, but all other
fruits are very scarce. Pasturage is in good condition. Rye, oats
and barley are not grown.

Topsfield (B- P. Pike). — Potato bugs are doing some damage.
Indian corn ranges from six inches to three feet in height ; little
of the crop is raised for silage. The hay crop is larger than last
year, but is not more than half cut. Hungarian grass and corn
are raised as forage crops. Potatoes are uneven and in poor con-
dition. There will be a one-fourth yield of apples, and not 10 per
cent of other fruits. Pastures are in very fair condition. Rye,
oats and barley are very fair crops.

25

Danvers (C. H. Preston). — Indian corn is in poor condition ;
a large part of the crop will go into the silo. Hay is less than an
average crop. Corn, oats and peas, millet and barley are the
principal forage crops grown. Market-garden crops are in poor
condition ; prices higher than usual. There will be few apples,
pears or plums and no peaches. Pasturage is in good condition.
Rye, oats and barley are fair crops, both for grain and forage.

NORFOLK COUNTY.

Avon (S. Frank Oliver). — There is no general complaint of
insect damage, although potato bugs are quite numerous. Corn
of all kinds is very poor ; only a small portion of the crop will be
put into the silo. The hay crop is larger and better than for a
number of years. Oats seem to be the favorite forage crop and in
most cases have done well. Market-garden crops are backward.
Potatoes look extra well but have not been dug as yet. Apples
are scarce. Pasturage is in good condition. Oats are a better
crop than usual. Nearly all the hay crop was secured from July
5th to 18th and in the best condition.

Stoughton (C. F. Curtis). — Indian corn is about three weeks
late and about 90 per cent of the crop will go into the silo. Hay
is better than an average crop. Oats, Japanese millet, barley and
Hungarian grass are the principal forage crops grown ; condition
good and twice as much as usual raised. Potatoes are growing
nicely. Late vegetables are bringing better prices than usual.
No peaches ; few quinces or plums ; apples and pears poor ;
grapes average ; too early to judge on cranberries. Pasturage is
in excellent condition. Rye and oats have yielded much better
than usual.

Walpole (E. L. Shepard). — Potato bugs and white grubs are
doing some damage. Corn is late but is growing well now. Hay
was a two-thirds crop and the quality was below ordinary years.
Hungarian grass, Japanese millet, fodder corn and barley are the
principal forage crops and more are being raised than usual.
Potatoes look finely ; market-garden crops below the average ;
prices higher than usual. Apples and pears will give small crops;
no peaches. Pastures are in better condition than is usual at this
time of year. Rye, oats and barley have yielded fairly well as
far as noted.

Westwood (H. E. Weatherbee) . — Potato bugs and squash
bugs are doing considerable damage. Corn is backward, most
fields having been planted a second time ; a small proportion will
be put into the silo. Hay will be from 80 to 90 per cent of a
normal crop and is of good quality. Hungarian grass and Japanese

26

millet are being raised as forage crops and are iu good condition
and growing well. Potatoes are looking well, but few have been
dug; early niarket-gardeu crops made light yields. Pears and
grapes will give good crops ; very few apples, peaches, plums or
quinces. Pasturage is good since the rains. Oats are a fair crop,
mostly cut green and dried for fodder ; rye or barley little raised.
Norfolk (A. D. Towne). — Potato and squash bugs are doing
some damage. Indian corn is uneven and backward ; about a
fourth of the crop is raised for the silo. Hay is very nearly an
average crop. Oats, millet, Hungarian grass and corn are the
forage crops grown, mostly for the silo : oats and millet look well.
There will be very few salable apples ; pears and grapes half
crops ; no plums and peaches. Pasturage is iu good condition.
Rye, oats and barley promise average crops.

BRISTOL COUNTY.

Attleborongh (Isaac Alger). — Potato bugs are doing some
damage. Corn is in very poor condition and the present prospect
is that there will not be much of a crop. Hay is about au average
crop as to quantity and quality. Large amounts of millet have been
sown as a forage crop and it is looking finely. Some fields of po-
tatoes are doing finely, others not so well. All fruits are making
a small showing. Rye, oats and barley are about average crops,
both for grain and forage crops.

Dighton (J. N. Paul). — Potato bugs are doing a little damage.
Corn promises about two-thirds of a crop, did not come up well ;
only a small proportion will be used in the silo. Hay is about a
two-thirds crop of good quality. Hungarian grass, millet and
fodder corn are the principal forage crops grown and more are
being raised than usual. Market-garden crops good ; potatoes
good; prices for early market-garden crops good. Apples fair;
pears good ; no peaches, plums or quinces ; grapes good. Pas-
tures are in good condition. Rye and oats good ; barley not grown.
Strawberry plants are making good growth. Onions are looking
well, but are thinly stocked as they did not come up well and have
been badly worked by maggots.

Westport (A. S. Sherman). — Potato bugs are doing some
damage. Indian corn is not doing as well as last year; no silos.
Quantity of the hay crop as large as usual and quality very good.
Corn, r^'e and oats are raised quite extensively for forage crops ;
good condition, no more raised than usual. Potatoes have im-
proved decidedly of late and those harvested yield well. Apples
a fair crop ; pears plenty ; no peaches ; plums scarce ; no quinces ;

27

grapes abundant. It is seldom that pastures are in as good con-
dition at tliis time of year. Rye, oats and barley promise well.

New Bedford (F. H. Mosher). — Cut worms, rose bugs and
potato bugs are doing some damage. Corn is in poor condition ;
no silos in this locality. Hay is less than an average crop in
quantity, but is of average quality. Corn was planted for fodder,
but did not come up well and is generally in poor condition. Gar-
den crops are below the average, alsp potatoes ; prices higher.
There will be a few apples and pears ; no peaches, plums or
grapes. Pasturage is improving from recent rains. Rye, oats
and barley are fair for forage and light for grain. The onion crop
is nearly a failure.

Acushnet (M. S. Douglas). — Potato bugs are doing some dam-
age. Indian corn is in very good condition ; only a small propor-
tion will go into the silo. There is a better hay crop than last year
and the quality is good. Fodder corn has been planted to a greater
extent than usually. Market-garden crops are in good condition.
No peaches ; few apples and pears ; no grapes ; very few plums ;
cranberries good. Pastures are in good condition. Rye, oats
and barley are more grown this year than formerly and taken as a
whole promise fairly good crops.

PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

Marshfield (J. H. Bourne). — Cut worms, potato bugs, squash
bugs, horn flies and green cattle flies are all present. Indian corn
came up poorly and is only just beginning to show signs of grow-
ing. Hay is a little less than an average crop and that which has
been cut is of good quality. Soy beans, Japanese millet, rape,
oats and fodder corn are the principal forage crops grown.
Market-garden crops are backward but improving. Apples are
less than an average crop ; no peaches or plums ; pears average ;
cranberries below average. Pastures are improving. Rye, oats
and barley are fairly good crops.

Hanson {F. S. Thomas). — Insects are doing little damage.
Corn is looking well ; not much is raised for the silo. The late
rains helped the hay crop and it is now about an average crop.
Fodder corn is the principal forage crop grown and it is in good
condition. There will be but little fruit owing to the early
drought. Pasturage is in good condition. Rye, oats and barley
are but little grown either for grain or forage.

West Bridgewater (C. P. Howard) . — Potato bugs arc doing
some damage. Corn is looking very poorly ; more than half the
corn crop is planted for the silo and one-fourth fed green, leaving

28

less than one-fourth to ripen. A full average hay crop will be
secured. Rye is cut for early feed ; oats, barley, peas and Hun-
garian grass are all grown for forage ci'ops ; corn is the best green
crop in its season. Potatoes are looking well, but few have been
dug ; prices are high. There will be a few apples and plenty of
pears. Pasturage is in very good condition. Rye, oats and barley
are raised only for forage.

Bridgewater {R. Cass). — Potato and squash bugs are doing
some damage. Indian corn is late and uneven ; none raised for
the silo. The hay crop will be a fair average on good land ; quality
good. Fodder corn, Hungarian grass and .Japanese millet are the
principal forage crops raised ; condition good and acreage in-
creased. Market-garden crops are below the normal in condition ;
potatoes good. The prospect for fruit is poor. Rye and oats are
good average crops.

Carver (J. A. Vaughan). — Potato bugs are doing some dam-
age. Hay is a good average crop and was secured in good order.
Millet and Hungarian grass are the principal forage crops grown
and show a larger acreage than usual. Market-garden crops are
in average condition. Owing to late spring frosts there are fewer
apples than usual, no peaches and but few grapes. Pasturage is
in good condition. Rye, oats and barley are average crops, both
for grain and forage. Cranberries have not blossomed well, owing
we believe to late frosts in May, and the crop will not be large.

Mattapoisett (E. C. Stetson). — Potato and squash bugs are
doing some damage. Where Indian corn came up it is looking
well ; no silos in this section. The hay crop is larger than for a
number of years; quality good. Fodder corn and millet are the
principal forage crops grown ; condition good, with about the usual
acreage. Market-garden crops are in good condition and prices
are a little better than usual. Not many apples ; pears good ; not
many peaches, plums or quinces; cranberries blossomed well.
Pastures are in very good condition. Rye, oats and barley are
about average crops.

BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
Bourne (D, D. Nye). — Potato bugs are doing some damage.
Indian corn is in very good condition ; no silos in town. The hay
crop is about half a normal crop and is equal to last year in
quality. Fodder corn, millet and Hungarian grass are the principal
forage crops grown. Market-garden crops are in good condition;
very few potatoes harvested. Cranberries promise about an aver-
age crop ; tree fruits very scarce ; apples dropping. Pasturage is

29

looking finely. Rye, oats and barley compare well with former
years as forage crops ; very little grown for grain.

Barnstable (John Bursley). — Fire worms on cranberries and
elm leaf beetles are doing some damage. Corn is the smallest at
this date for 25 years ; none raised for silage. The hay crop is 85
per cent of an average crop ; quality fair. Hungarian grass and
millet have been sown quite extensively since July 1st. Potatoes
look well, very few harvested as yet. Apples and pears good ;
peaches and plums small ; grapes and cranberries fair. Pastures
are in good condition. Rye, oats and barley are fully up to the
average both as grain and forage crops. Showers at this season
help those who grow White French or Cape turnips, the bulk of
the crop being planted the first half of July.

Harivich (A. N. Doane). — Potato bugs and cranberry vine
worms are doing some damage. Indian corn has improved and
there will be a fair crop. Hay is less than an average crop and
of inferior quality. Fodder corn is sown to take the place of the
short hay crop. No apples, pears, peaches or plums ; quinces a
fair crop; cranberries less than half the crop of 1902. Pastures
are improving. Rye, oats and barley are about average crops for
grain and forage.

Orleans (F. E. Snow). — Potato bugs are doing some damage.
Corn is backward, but is growing well now ; none used for silage.
Hay is a short crop. Millet and fodder corn are the principal
forage crops grown and rather more millet than usual has been
planted. Potatoes are doing well now. Apples rather scarce,
also peaches and plums ; pears fairly abundant ; cranberries fair.
Pasturage is in quite good condition. Oats are looking well now,
no large amount raised.

Eastham (J. A. Clark). — No insects are doing damage.
Indian corn is backward. Hay is a fair crop of good quality.
Market-garden crops, including potatoes, are looking well. Apples
and pears will give fair crops. Pasturage is in good condition.

DUKES COUNTY.

West Tishury (Geo. Hunt Luce). — Potato bugs are doing some
damage. Indian corn has improved, but is rather backward.
The hay crop is average in quantity and quality. Potatoes are a
good crop and prices are high. Apples and pears will be plenty.
Pasturage is in very good condition. Oats are an average crop.

30

BULLETIN OF
MASSACHUSETTS BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

BEE KEEPING: ITS PLEASURES AND PROFITS.

By James B. Paige, Professor of J'eterinary Science^ Massachusetts Agricultural

College.

Forty or fifty years ago nearly every farmer kept a few swarms
of bees. They furnished him and his family with a healthful ar-
ticle of food that was considered almost a necessity. To-day it is
the exception rather than the rule that one sees about the farmer's
home these producers of the most wholesome and delicious table
delicacy that it is possible to obtain.

In addition to the production of honey, bees perform an invalu-
able service to the farmer and fruit grower by the fertilization and
cross fertilization of tlowers. The value of what they do in this
way cannot be estimated. Growers of hothouse cucumbers and
melons make use of them to carr^^ pollen from flower to flower.
This work was formerly done by hand by the use of a camel's liair
pencil. It has been found that it can be more cheaply and as
effectively done, at all times of the year, by allowing bees to circu-
late in the hothouse, visiting the flowers upon the vines as they
develop.

Bee keeping not only serves as a source of profit to those who
keep them, but they afford a vast amount of enjoyment to one
interested in the study of insect life.

The Year Book of the United States Department of Agriculture
for 1901 says, in part, of bees and production of honey and wax :
" About one farm in nine in the United States was reported as
keeping bees in 1900. The largest total value of honey and wax
produced by any State in 1899 was by Texas, $468,527. Alaska
made no report, and the value of the product in the District of
Columbia was S56. The next lowest total was $1,149, for South
Dakota." Figures relative to this subject for the United States,
with those of the five leading States in which the bee industry
brings the largest returns, and Massachusetts, are given to show
how generally they are kept throughout the country and the income
derived from them : —

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32

Among other things shown by the above table is that Massachu-
setts, with slightly more than one-half the number of farms that
California has, reports only about one-sixth as many as having
bees upon them. In Massachusetts we have only a total of one-
fifteenth as many swarms of bees as California, yielding an annual
income of $18,412 for honey and wax, against $331,939 for the
latter State. In other words, the 6,915 bee keepers of California
receive eighteen times as much income froto their bees as do the
1,799 apiarists of Massachusetts. This difference can be ac-
counted for in part by the slightly larger income derived from
each swarm in California over that obtained from a Massachu-
setts colony. The California bees yield an income of about $2.57
per swarm ; those of Massachusetts, $2.20.

Undoubtedly the flora and climate of some of the western and
southern States are more favorable for bee keeping than are those
of Massachusetts, but these conditions do not account for the
great difference in the income derived or to be derived from bees.

A reference to the complete table printed in the Year Book of
the Department of Agriculture shows that New York stands, of
all the States and territories, second in value of honey and wax
produced, $352,795, while eighth in number of swarms kept. The
average money yield in 1899 for honey and wax (not including
increase in swarms) was $1.88 per swarm. It would seem that
our State is as well located, geographically, for successful bee
culture as is New York. That we have as large a nectar yielding
flora there can be little doubt.

A comparison of the returns from Vermont and Massachusetts
shows that the Vermont farmers keep a much larger number of
swarms of bees than our farmers do. With practically the same
number of farms reporting, Massachusetts having only 79 more
than Vermont, Massachusetts farmers report only 8,381 hives,
valued at $35,751, $4.26 per hive, while Vermont has 12,836
swarms, valued at $46,953, $3.58 per swarm. The total value of
honey and wax to Vermont bee keepers in 1899 was $27,290,
while our own farmers received only $18,412 for their bee prod-
ucts. Much of the Vermont honey is sold in Massachusetts.

The geographical situation of our own State is more favorable
for bee keeping than is Vermont ; and there seems to be no good
reason why we should not produce sufficient honey for home con-
sumption, instead of purchasing from neighboring States. Our
cities are teeming with people of moderate means who are anxious
to move into the country in order to enjoy more quiet and health-
ful surroundings and occupations. The great difficulty that con-
fronts them is to find a locality not so remote from a large place

38

as to debar them of all social privileges and the advantages of a
market, yet at the same time sufficiently removed to enable them
to purchase land at a price within their reach, capable of furnish-
ing support for their families. From a lack of experience neces-
sary for them to engage successfully in general farming, and the
cost of equipping a farm with the required stock and tools to carry
it on, these people must, if they leave the mills, stores and shops
of the cities and take up a residence in rural sections, engage in a
special branch of agriculture that they can familiarize themselves
with through observation and the study of books.

Market gardening, the growing of small fruits or flowers, poultry
raising and bee keeping are the agricultural specialties either en-
gaged in alone or in combination that are best adapted for those
who are compelled, on account of ill health or from other circum-
stances, to leave the cities and resort to the country to take up
agricultural pursuits to gain a livelihood.

There are seasons, owing largely to climatic conditions, when
bees in Massachusetts are unable to collect and store more honey
than is required for the raising of brood and food for winter use.
For this reason bee keeping for either comb or extracted honey
may not yield a very large income. To provide against such an
exigency it is not advisable for one to depend upon bee keeping
as a sole source of income, but to combine with it some other
specialty. Which of those specialties already mentioned to be
selected should depend upon location, kind of soils, demands of
the market, etc.

Suitably situated in a locality for the advantageous growing of
poultry, in a vicinity where there exists a variety of honey-yielding
plants, a combination of these two industries would go well together.
Poultry requires almost constant care in winter, at a time when bees
are inactive. During late spring, summer and early fall poultry
needs little attention, except at morning and evening. During
the middle of the day the time could be utilized in caring for bees.
In fact, it is not possible to handle them except at this time. They
resent interference except on warm days, then only during the
latter part of the forenoon or early part of the afternoon. When
beos are most busy at work and most numerous about the hive is
the best time to handle them. On dark, cool days, or very early
or late in the day, they are almost certain to attack one who dis-
turbs them.

The July 9, 1903, number of the "Youth's Companion" con-
tains a short article upon the topic, " The Woman and the Farm,"
which relates to the possibilities of gaining a livelihood by engag-
ing in those specialties of agriculture to which reference has been

34

made. The article says in part: "Two essays read before agri-
cultural societies in the central west suggest a wider and truer
view of the situation. . . . The heroine of the other (second)
essayist was a successful stenographer, who, wanting a house of
her own, pitched upon a three-acre place which was far from cities,
but within reachable distance of several summer hotels. By study,
perseverance, tact and common sense, she presently found herself
marketing every year five thousand pounds of honey, fifteen hun-
dred ducks and quantities of fine fruit." In addition the writer
says: "Probably there is not a county in any State which does
not offer similar opportunities for tired women to rest by change of
occupation, and meantime earn a living; or for ambitious women
to take up fruit growing, market gardening, poultry keeping, or
some other specialty, and carry it on at a profit."

There is hardly a locality in Massachusetts where there are not
sufiicient honey-yielding flowers to allow of successful bee keeping.
This applies not alone to the country but quite as well to the cities.
In rural districts, wild flowers and cultivated plants are to be de-
pended upon for a honey supply. In cities the flowers of cultivated
ornamental plants and those of the ornamental trees in the streets
and parkways and about the residences often yield a bountiful
supply of honey.

The writer has observed during the present year in the Public
Gardens, on the Common and in the parkways in the city of Bos-
ton and vicinity large numbers of the best honey-producing plants
and trees to be found anywhere. Last year he observed growing
wild in great abundance along the shore near the city of Salem the
sweet clover (melilotus alba) that is so attractive to bees and a
prolific honey producer — remaining in bloom for more than a
month,

A large farm in a rural district is not essential for the successful
keeping of bees. They thrive in towns, villages and even large
cities. Says Frank Benton in his bulletin entitled " Bee Keeping : "
" It even happens in some instances that bees in cities and towns
find more abundant pasturage than in country locations which are
considered fair." He cites Washington, D. C, as an example,
owing to the presence of large numbers of linden trees that have
been planted along both sides of many of the streets and avenues
of the city.

Swarms of bees so situated that they are protected from strong
winds and the extreme cold of winter will thrive in almost any
locality in Massachusetts. It is best that the hive be placed near
the ground, as it can be more easily reached by the bees returning

35

heavily laden with honey from the fields. This is, however, not
absolutely necessary, as swarms do well that are kept in attics of
houses or barns or other buildings, the bees being allowed to enter
and leave the hive through small openings in the walls of the
buildings. In localities where there is not too great an exposure
or winds too strong, hives of bees have been known to prosper
when placed upon the flat roof of a city building.

In locating a hive of bees in a thickly-settled community, it
should never be so placed that the bees in leaving or approaching
the home would be compelled to cross a path or walk frequented
by people.

During the early part of July the writer examined a year-old
swarm of bees, kept in the rear yard of a house in a country town,
that had already during the season produced 60 pounds of surplus
honey. He has upon his own three-quarters of an acre home lot
in a country village six swarms of bees that have, up to date,
stored more than 100 pounds of surplus comb honey of the finest
quality. In addition to this some have given off large early
swarms, each of which should, under favorable conditions, store
20 pounds of honey in excess of that required to live upon during
the coming winter.

Considering that a swarm of bees may be purchased, in a
modern, movable, frame hive, complete, including a super for
holding surplus honey boxes, in May or June for $6 or S7, the
yield of 20 to 40 pounds of surplus honey worth from 15 to 25
cents per pound, and the production of a swarm of bees that may,
under favorable conditions, produce 10 to 20 pounds of surplus
honey, or be sold without a hive for $1.50 to S2 50, the return for
the money invested is most certainly a good one.

Such results can only be expected when the conditions for a
good and continuous honey flow exist, and the bees are carefully
looked after. It is the exception rather than the rule that con-
ditions are so unfavorable for honey production that a strong
swarm will not gather in excess of that required for brood rearing
and winter food supply.

It is with bee keeping as with every other business, in that it is
most successfully conducted when given intelligent and constant
care. It usually happens, nevertheless, that with scarcely any
care a few swarms of bees will, if favorably located, gather and
store surplus honey, the only attention given them being to remove
the filled honey boxes in the fall and replace them with empty
ones in the early spring. New swarms may or may not be saved.
The writer is acquainted with several parties, living in villages,

36

each of whom keeps in his yard two or three swarms of bees under
the conditions mentioned, and receive from each of them each year
from 20 to 60 pounds of honey.

It is advisable for one not familiar with the business, who con-
templates starting in with bee keeping, to at first start in a small
way with only one or two swarms, and then with a variety of bees
that is quiet and easily handled. For this purpose Italians are
preferable to the common black bees. The latter are more restless
and easily angered when they are disturbed. With a good bee
smoker and a veil one need have but little fear of stings, provided
quiet, good-tempered bees are kept.

With one or two swarms to begin with the natural increase will
build up the apiary quickly. By working with a few at the begin-
ning one gets the experience needed to successfully manage a large
number of swarms with little difficulty.

The cost of starting an apiary is comparatively small. The fol-
lowing list of articles, with average price of each, includes all
things required : —

Swarm of bees in hive complete, . . . $7 00
Extra hive with foundation comb, including
super for surplus honey,

Bee smoker,

Veil,

Porter bee escape, for clearing supers of bees,

Freight,

Incidentals, . . • .

Total, $15 20

This is the outfit required for producing comb honey. If ex-
tracted honey is desired it would be necessary to add an extractor,
costing from $8 to $10, according to size and pattern.

Brood frames, with full foundation comb, are recommended.
In case these are not used the combs will be built so irregularly
that it will be found impossible to remove the frames without
seriously breaking the combs, to the detriment of the brood and
to the annoyance of the manipulator. Where full foundation
sheets are used they are built out in large, flat, regular combs that
allow of the removal of a frame from the brood chamber without
disturbing or breaking other sheets of comb. Another distinct
advantage of using full sheets of foundation is that more worker
comb and less drone comb is built. As the drone bees do not add
to the working capacity of a hive it is advisable to prevent their
production as much as possible. This can only be done by fur-

3 50

85

50

35

1 00

2 00

37

nisbing foundation stamped with worker cells upon the surface.
These worker cells, outlined by the press, will be drawn out into
full worker cells by the bees. On the other hand, if they are
allowed or are compelled to build their own combs, without the
guide furnished by the embossed sheet of foundation, drone comb
will be constructed to a much greater extent than when the foun-
dation is furnished.

In this short article it is not the intention of the writer to give
full and explicit directions for the selection of supplies, the man-
ipulation of bees or the conducting of an apiary. This informa-
tion can be obtained from a study of the books enumerated at the
end of this paper, also by visiting a well-conducted apiary and
observing the apiarist at his work.

A few of the more common mistakes made by the novice may
be avoided by observing the following directions : —

In selecting hives always select one of the modern movable
frame varieties, with super for surplus honey boxes. The old-
fashioned box hive is so disadvantageous in so many respects that
it should never be made use of. If bees are purchased in a box
hive they should be transferred to a movable frame hive at the
earliest possible time.

As to the variety of the modern hive to be selected, it makes
but little difference, provided it is strongly built, easy to obtain at
short notice and convenient to manipulate. As a rule, the simpler
the construction the better. There are many varieties on the
market (each of which is praised by its inventor and advocated
by certain bee keepers). Anti-swarming, double-ventilated and
double-covered hives and those of similar description possess few
or no advantages over the ordinary modern hive, except in the
minds of the inventors.

It is always advisable to have all hives in the yard alike, in order
that parts may be interchanged, as is frequently necessary.

Unless one has at his disposal wood- working machinery and
plenty of spare time it is better to buy hives of a dealer than to
make them. To get the best results they must be accurately and
strongly made, to provide proper space for the bees and accurate
fitting of all parts, to prevent excessive glueing by the bees and
to allow an interchange of every fixture. For one wishing to
economize in the purchase of hives it is l)etter to bu}' them un-
painted in the " flat" and put them together and paint them rather
than to attempt to build them, running tlie risk of mistakes that
are almost certain to be made.

The accompanying illustrations show two of the many service-

38

able and practical hives. Both are similar but vary somewhat in
shape and construction, as will be seen by a study of tlie illus-
trations.

Fig. 1*

Fig. 1* shows the Gary simplicity hive, with two supers. As
will be observed, the parts are halved together in such a manner
that they overlap, making a rain and weatherproof joint. i /-These
hives are interchangeable in every part and are especially adapted
to tiering up.

Fig. 2.

Fig. 2* represents the dovetailed or lock corner hive, as made
by A. I. Root Company, Medina, Ohio. It is a strong, convenient
and serviceable hive, but, unlike the Gary simplicity hive, does

* These illustrations are from the catalogue of W. W. Gary & Son, Lyons-
ville, Mass., manufacturers and dealers in hee supplies, and are used with their
permission.

39

not have the edges rabbeted so that the parts overlap when placed
in position. Each of these hives is made in several patterns with
a variety of fixtures, to suit the fancy of the purchaser.

Much pleasure may be had and information gained by the study
of bees kept in an observation hive. Such a hive is shown in Fig.
3. It is constructed with glass sides and holds a single frame of
comb. At B is a sliding box covered with wire cloth ; this can be
raised or lowered to open or close the entrance to the front of the
hive. At A is shown a feeder, consisting of a bottle through the
stopper of which is a glass tube one-half inch in diameter. The
bottle, after being filled with a saturated solution of granulated
sugar in water, is inverted and the glass tube placed in an opening
in the cover, protected on the inside by means of a piece of wire
cloth. As fast as the bees remove the syrup from the end of the
tube, air enters the bottle and more syrup runs down upon the
wire cloth.

The hive should be arranged so that the sides may be covered
to keep out the light when the bees are not under observation,
otherwise the glass will be covered with wax and glue by the bees
for the purpose of darkening the hive.

When a frame of brood covered with bees provided with a queen
is placed in this glass-walled hive it is possible to observe them at
their work. The movements of the queen may be watched as she
travels over the comb depositing eggs in the empty cells. The de-
velopment of the eggs into larvae and later pupae, the capping of
the brood and its escape from the cells when fully developed, the
storing of the honey and pollen, and all may be studied at will.
If the queen is removed the process of queen cell building and the
rearing of the new queen may be observed at every stage.

Such a hive may be placed in a living room, school-room or other
place desired, and the bees be allowed to fly to the fields through
a convenient opening made in the wall, window sash or frame.
Whenever the comb is fully built down and completly filled with
honey and brood it is necessary to replace it with a new sheet of
comb, upon which there is room for the bees to work, otherwise
the queen, finding her quarters restricted, will leave the hive,
taking most of the bees with her, to go in search a of more com-
modious habitation. If a sufficient number of bees do not remain
to mature the brood, or in case no newly laid eggs are present in
the hive from which a new queen may be reared, the swarm will
perish.

The writer is an enthusiast over bee keeping, having, during his
few years' experience with bees, derived a small profit and a large

40

amount of pleasure in working among the industrious little toilers
and in feasting upon the honey which they have produced.

To suggest to some one a pleasant means of recreation, coupled
with a possible source of profit, is the main object of this paper.

To one desiring more information concerning this particular in-
dustry the reader is referred to the following publications : —

" Bees and Bee Keeping," by Frank R. Cheshire. 2 vols. Vol.
I, scientific ; Vol. II, practical.

" The A. B. C. of Bee Culture," A. I. Root. ,

" Langstroth on the Honey Bee."

" The Bee Keeper's Guide, or Manual of the Apiary," Prof. A.
J. Cook.

"The Honey Bee — A Manual of Instruction in Apiculture,"
Frank Benton, M.S., United States Department of Agriculture,
1899.

" Bee Culture," Dr. C. C. Miller. Bulletin 77, Pennsylvania
Department of Agriculture.

The following are some of the leading journals relating to bee
culture published in the United States : —

" Gleanings in Bee Culture," Medina, Ohio.

" The American Bee Journal," Chicago, 111.

" The American Bee Keeper," Falconer, N. Y.

"The Bee Keeper's Review," Flint, Mich.

The Massachusetts Agricultural College will offer the coming
year a short course in bee culture, beginning the fourth Wednes-
day of May and continuing two weeks. For full particulars, ad-
dress Dr. H. H. Goodell, Amherst, Mass.

Series of 1903.

Bulletin No. 4.

MASSACHUSETTS

CEOP KEPOET

Month of August, 1903,

ISSUED BY

J. LEWIS ELLSWORTH,
Secretary State Board of Agriculture.

BOSTON :

WRIGHT & POTTER PRINTING CO., STATE PRINTERS,
18 Post Office Square.
1903.

Approved by
The State Board of Publication.

Ckop Eepoet for the Month of August, 1903.

Office of State Board of Agriculture,
Boston, Mass., Sept. 1, 1903.

Bulletin No. 4, Crop Report for the month of August, is
presented herewith. Particular attention is called to the
article on " The management of poultry on small farms," by
John H. Robinson, editor of "Farm-Poultry," which is
printed at the ctose of the bulletin. It is of interest to all
farmers who keep poultr}^ and should be especialh' valuable
and interestino- to all those who are unable, through their
situation, to follow the free range or colony plan.

Progress of the Season.

The August returns of the United States Department of
Agriculture (Crop Reporter for August, 1903) show the
condition of corn on August 1 to have been 78.7, as com-
pared with 79.4 on July 1, 8(3.5 on Aug. 1, 1902, 54 at the
corresponding date in 1901, and a ten-3^car average of 84.4.

Preliminary returns indicate a mnter wheat crop of about
410,000,000 bushels, or an average of 12.4 bushels per acre,
as compared with 13.8 liushels last year. The average con-
dition of spring wheat on August 1 was 77.1, as compared
with 82.5 a month earlier, 89.7 in 1902, 80.3 the year
previous, and a ten-j^ear average of 80.2.

The average condition of the oat crop Avas 79.5, as com-
pared with 84.3 a month earlier, 89.4 in 1902, 73.6 in 1901,
and a ten-year average of 82.6. The proportion of the oat
crop of last year still in the hands of farmers was estimated
at 7.4 per cent, as compared with 4.2 per cent of the crop
of 1901 in farmers' hands a year ago, 5.9 per cent of that of
1900 the year previous, and an eight-year average of 7.4 per
cent.

The average condition of barley on August 1 Avas 83.4,
against 86.8 a month earher, 90.2 in 1902, 8().9 in 1901,
and a ten-vear avorao-e of 83.4.

The average condition of spring r^^e was 87.2, as compared
with 88.3 a month earlier, 90.5 on Aug. 1, 1902, 83. G at the
corresponding date in 1901, and a ten-year average of 85.3.

Tlie acreage of buckwheat is less than that o£ last year by
about 500 acres, or .1 per cent. The condition of buck-
wheat August 1 was 93.9, as compared with 91.4 on Aug.
1, 1902, 91.1 at the coiTesponding date in 1901, and a ten-
3^ear average of 89.8.

The average condition of flax on August 1 was 80.3, as
compared with 86.2 a month earlier.

The average condition of tol)acco on August 1 was 82.9,
as compared with 85.1 a month earlier.

The average condition of potatoes on August 1 was 87.2,
as compared with 88.1 a month earlier, 94.8 in 1902, 62.3
at the same date in 1901, and a ten-year average of 84.5.

Preliminary returns indicate an increase of 0.3 per cent in
the hay acreage. The condition of timothy hay on August 1
was 92.2, as compared with 90 in 1902, 84.1 in 1901, and
a nine-year average of 84.7.

Reports as to the production of clover indicate that nearly
a full crop will be harvested. In point of qualit}^ the crop
of clover is well up to high medium grade.

The condition of rice on August 1 was 92, as compared
with 93.5 a month earlier.

The average condition of cotton on Jul}- 25 was 79.7, as
compared with 77.1 on June 25, 1903, 81.9 on July 25,
1902, 77.2 on July 25, 1901, and a ten-year average of 84.3.

In Massachusetts the average condition of corn was 67 ;
the average condition of oats 97, and the proportion of the
crop of 1902 still in farmers' hands 4.1 per cent ; the average
condition of spring rye 98 ; the acreage of buckwheat com-
pared with hist 3^ear 96, and the average condition 93 ; the
average condition of tobacco, 84 : the average condition of
potatoes, 85 ; the acreage of hay compared with last year,
99 ; the average condition of timothy, 92 ; the production
of clover, 93 ; the quality of ck)ver, 95 ; the average condi-
tion of pasture, 96 ; the average condition of apples, C^Q ; the
average condition of peaches, 24 ; and the average condition
of grapes, 81.

Temperature and Rainfall for the Whole Country.

[From United States Climate and Crop Bulletins.]
Week ending Jail/ 27. — In the southern States and in
the northern districts eastward of the Mississippi River the
week averaged nearly normal in temperature. In the Mis-
souri valley and Rocky ^fountain region the week averaged
warmer than usual. On the Pacific coast and over the
western portion of the Plateau districts the week was
cooler than usual, being decidedly cool on the central })or-
tion of California. There was more than the averao-e rain-
fall over the greater jTart of New England, in portions of
the lower Lake region, middle Atlantic and Gulf States,
over a limited area in the upper Ohio valley, and in por-
tions of the upper Mississippi and upper Missouri valleys ;
but over the greater part of the country the rainfall was
lighter than usual.

Week ending August 3. — The week was cooler than
usual in the west Gulf States, throughout the northern })or-
tions of the country from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and in
southern California. It was decidedly cool in New England,
the Lake region, upper Mississippi and Missouri valleys, and
northern Rocky Mountain districts. In the southern Rocky
Mountain districts and in the east Gulf and south Atlantic
States the w^eek averaged warmer than usual. Over the
greater part of the country east of the Rocky Mountains
the rainfall exceeded the average, and was excessively heavy
from the west Gulf coast northward to the upper Alississippi
and central Missouri valleys, and also over portions of the
Lake region, Ohio valley and south Atlantic and east Gulf
States. Over the greater })art of the middle Atlantic States
and New England the rainfall was below the averao;e.

WeeJv ending August 10. — The week averaged cooler
than usual in the northern districts eastward of the Rock}^
IVIountains, over portions of the Plateau region, along the
immediate Pacific coast and in southern Texas. It Avas de-
cidedly cool in New England and in portions of the middle
Atlantic States, and in the Lake region, upper Mississippi,
Red River of the North and upper Missouri valleys, the

6

deficiency being most marked in New England. In the
soutliern States the week averaged sliglitly warmer than
usual. The rainfall exceeded the average in southern New
England, the northern i)ortion of the middle Atlantic States,
the greater part of the Lake region, upper Mississippi, lower
Ohio and lower Missouri valleys. Over the interior por-
tions of the south Atlantic and east Gulf States, in the
upper Ohio valley, northern ]Sew England, and generally
along the middle and south Atlantic coasts there was less
than the average rainfall.

Week ending August 1 7. — The week was cooler than
usual in the northern districts east of -the Rocky Mountains,
and also over the western portion of the middle Plateau
region, the greater part of California and on the north Pacific
coast. In New England, the Lake region and upper Missis-
sippi valle}^ the maximum temperatures were generally below
80°. Generally throughout the Rockj^ Mountain districts
and the southern States the temperature averaged normal or
slightly above. In the lower Missouri valley, portions of
the upper and lower Mississippi valley and upper Lake
region, and in the middle and south Atlantic States the rain-
fall exceeded the average, being excessively heavy in the
central Missouri valley, central and lower Mississippi valley
and along the south Atlantic coast. Over the greater part
of New England, the lower Lake region, ui)per Ohio valley,
portions of the upper Lake region and upper Mississippi
valley, and over the greater part of Texas, the rainfall was
below the average.

Week ending August 24. — The week was slightly cooler
than usual in the Atlantic coast districts from Florida to
southern New Jersey and on the central New England coast.
In the western portion of the upper Lake region, the
upper Mississippi and upper Missouri valleys, and generally
throughout the Rock}' Mountain and Plateau regions, the
week was warmer than the average. Elsewhere the temper-
ature averaged nearly normal, although slightly in excess at
most stations. Over a considerable portion of tlie Gulf
States the rainftdl exceeded the average. There was also
more than the \veekly a\ erage on the central New England

coast, in northern Minnesota, North Dakota, portions of
Montana, South Dakota, Wj^omino-, Colorado and Utah, and
along the immediate north Pacific coast. In the central val-
leys and over the greater part of the Lake region and New
England, the middle Atlantic States and the greater part of
Texas the rainfall was below the average.

Special Telegraphic Reports.

[Weather Bureau, Boston.]

Week ending July 27. — New England. Boston : Week
rather too wet and cold for best growth, but potatoes and
garden vegetables have done well ; corn made good growth,
but needs sunshine ; grain and grass somewhat damaged by
wind and rain ; good crop of rye : haying delayed by rain,
nearly an average crop ; good yield of rowen promised ;
apples uneven, probably below average ; berries fairly
plenty ; tobacco mostly doing well, some damage by rain,
topping begun.

Week ending August 3. — New England. Boston : Aver-
age week for growth, but most crops need sunshine ; haying
delayed by showers and cloudiness ; corn making good
growth, and is promising, but backward ; oats, rye and bar-
ley good ; some apples blown off by high Avinds, otherwise
condition unchanged; pears and plums uneven, latter some-
what damaged by blight ; garden vegetables good, and grow-
ing well ; tobacco fair ; potatoes excellent.

Week endi)ig Auguxf 10. — New England. Boston:
Cloudiness and rain generally unfavorable for growth and
harvesting ; much grass, oats, rye and barley }'et to cut,
A\dth prospects for good crops ; potatoes growing well, and
promising good yield ; corn and tobacco making fair ad-
vance, much in need of sunshine and warmth ; apples and
other fruit prospects unchanged ; garden vegetables in fair
condition ; vine crops late, but growing well.

Week ending August 17. — New England. Boston:
Week generally favorable for growth and harvesting crops,
but more sunshine and warmth needed ; considerable hay
yet to be cut ; yield and quality of hay, oats, rye and barley
good ; potatoes thriving, and promise good crop ; garden

8

truck backward, especially melons, cucumbers and tomatoes ;
3'ield of winter apples will be small, quality excellent, espe-
ciall}' Baldwins ; tobacco making fair growth, cutting begun,
needs sunshine.

Week ending August 24. — New England. Boston :
Week generally favorable ; some grain lodged ; apples blown
otf ; gaitlen vegetables made good growth, but are backward ;
small yield of vine crops expected ; potatoes generally in
good condition, some scattered blight and rot, especially in
Connecticut ; corn crop small ; hay average crop, much to
be cut ; rye, barley and oats giving excellent yields ; cran-
berry harvest begun, yield below average, quality excellent ;
tobacco uneven, cutting begun.

Weather of August, 1903.
The weather of the first three days of the. month was
generally clear and favorable for farm work, although the
temperature was somewhat cool ; then followed nearly a
w^eek of cloudy, rainy weather, extending from the 4th to
the 9th inclusive. The rainfall Avas well distributed and
quite heavy, 1 inch or more falling in nearly all parts of the
State. The temperature continued low, both during the
days and nights, probably breaking dj\Y previous record of
low average temperature for the week ending August 10.
At Boston the average temperature for the week was only
60°, which was 7° lower than the lowest previouslj^ re-
corded for this period, and 12° below the average of this
period for thirtj^ years, which is 72°. After the 9th fair
weather prevailed for nearly a week, with more than the
average amount of sunshine. The temperature also ranged
somewhat higher, although continuing below the normal for
the season, Avith cool nights. With the exception of light
local showers on the 16th and 17th, generally clear weather
prevailed from the 10th to the 19th. Local showers again
occurred on the 20th, and were general with copious rainfall
on the 2ath. After the 19th there was more cloudiness
with deficiency of sunshine, which conditions continued
through the greater portion of the remainder of the month.
The temperature ranged higher from the 19th to the 23d

than during any preceding portion of the month, rising to
maxima of 80° to 86°, and was generall}' normal; at Boston
this was the only portion of the month when the temperature
rose to the normal. This warm, seasonable temperature was
of brief duration, for on the 25th cloudy, tlireatening weather,
with unseasonabl}^ low temperatures and cool northerly to
easterly winds, again set in, continuing up to nearly the
last of the month. While the precipitation for the month
was somewhat below normal, it was quite well distributed
and without marked feature. The feature of the month,
however, which made it an exception to nearly all other
Augusts, was the abnormally low temperature. The nights
were continuously cool, and warm, summerlike days were
few ; at Boston there were but three days when the temper-
ature rose to 80° or higher. While .the quantity of rainfall
and sunshine was not such as to be unfavorable, the ex-
treme low temperature made the weather conditions of the
month unsuitable for the growth of many crops.

In the circular to correspondents returnable August 24 the
following questions were asked : —

1. What is the condition of Indian corn?

2. What is the prospect for rowen, as compared with a
normal crop?

3. What is the prospect for late potatoes, and have you
noticed blight or rot ?

4. How do the acreage and condition of tobacco compare
with former years ?

5. What is the prospect for apples, pears, peaches,
grapes and cranberries?

6. What is the condition of pasturage?

7. How have oats and barley compared with former
years ?

8. What> proportion of your farmers give pouUry the
care it should have for good results?

Keturns were received from 168 correspondents, fnmi
which the following summary has been made up : —

10

Indian Corn.
Reports on Indian corn were almost universally discourag-
ing, and almost a total failure of the crop is looked for, so
far as the maturing of the grain is concerned. Should Sep-
tember he unusually warm, with Avarm nights, — in fact,
should summer Aveather prevail during the month, — corn
might improve so that a fair crop could be secured, but such
a result is not to be expected. It is generally reported that
the ears are not numerous or well developed, although as
stover the crop will approach more nearly to the normal.
Corn planted for the silo is also late and immature at present.

ROWEN.

The rowen crop is unusually heavy on early cut fields,
and good on many of those later cut ; but so manj^ fields
were cut very late, and will consequently produce little
rowen, that not more than an average crop will be secured
as a whole. The frequent rains have put mowings in excel-
lent condition. Many correspondents report the belated
first crop to have been the heaviest for years.

Late Potatoes.

Late potatoes are somewhat backward, and but few had
been harvested at the time of making returns. A fair to
good crop was promised at that time, although blight had
appeared generally throughout the State, and there were
some reports of rot. Should these diseases become preva-
lent and severe, only a small crop can be looked for ; but
further returns must be received before the comparative
3^ield can be stated with any degree of accuracy.

Tobacco.
The acreage of tobacco is about the same as last vear.
The crop is late, and generally in poor condition. Some
good fields are reported, but the majorit}^ sho^v a light
yield, and some are turning yellow. Cutting is in progress,
but is somewhat delayed by the backwardness of the crop,
and will not be completed before the first week in Septem-
ber.

11

Fruits.
Apples are holding on well, and promise an unusually good
<5rop for an off year, as it is in most localities. The quality
of the fruit promises to be good. Pears are a fair crop, of
gODd quality. There will be practically no peaches, except
ill a few favored localities. Grapes promise a fair crop,
though hardly an average one. Cranberries are a light crop
in all sections, owing to the late spring frosts.

Pasturage.
Pastures are generally in first-class condition, much better
than is usual at this time of jeav, although at the time of
making returns rains were needed on the Cape to enable
them to carry through the season,

Oats and Barley.
Oats are a fair average crop, reports of unusually good
crops being about balanced by adverse ones from other sec-
tions. Barley is bat little raised, except for forage. Both
have done well in this latter capacity.

Poultry Keeping.
It is the general opinion of the correspondents that but
few farmers give poultry the care it should have for good
results, but they also appear to believe that even under
present conditions it is generally a profitable branch of
farming. Attention is called to the article at tlie end of the
bulletin, which elaborates plans for keeping poultry on
farms with a minimum of labor, — an im})ortant item with
all farmers.

12

JS^OTES OF CORKESPONDEISrTS.

(Returned to us August 24.)

BERKSHIRE COUNTY.

Mount Washington (H. M. Weaver). — Indian corn is very
backward. Rowen promises to be a better crop than usual. Po-
tatoes are a good crop, with neither blight nor rot as yet. Apples
are a better crop than for six years past ; pears good. Pastures
are in good condition. Oats and barley are good in straw, but
light in grain, especially oats. None of our farmers give poultry
the care it should have for good results.

New Marlborough (E. W. Rhoades). — Corn is very late and
uneven. Rowen promises to be a full normal crop. Late pota-
toes promise a fair crop, with blight and rot in places. There
will be a half crop of apples ; pears, peaches and grapes very
small crops. Pasturage is in good condition. Oats are an aver-
age crop. Possibly one-fourth of our farmers give poultry the
care it should have for good results.

Otis {S. H. Norton). — Indian corn is very backward. Rowen
is looking well. Potatoes will be a good crop, though there is
some complaint of rot. There will be a very good crop of apples.
Pastures are in good condition. Oats are about an average crop.
Very few farmers give much attention to poultry.

West Stockbridge (J. S. Moore). — Corn is in poor condition,
and most of it will only be fit for use in the silo. Rowen will be
the best crop in years. The prospect for late potatoes is good,
with but little complaint of blight or rot. Apples and pears are
average crops ; other fruits not raised. There is a good crop of
oats ; little barley sown. Very few of our farmers give poultry
the attention it should have for good results, but those who do,
find that it pays. The hay crop is generally considered to have
been much larger than last year.

Richmond (T. B. Salmon). — Indian corn is very backward,
and there will be little grain to harvest. Rowen is about a nor-
mal crop. The prospect is that there will be a good crop of pota-
toes. Apples will give a good crop ; few pears or peaches ; no
grapes or cranberries. Pasturage is in good condition. Oats

13

are a good crop and barley is above the average. Only about half
our farmers give poultry the care it should have for good results.

Waslmigton (E. H. Eames). — Indian corn is not as good as
usual but is better than last year. The prospect is good for the
rowen crop. Late potatoes are a good crop, though blight and
rot have done some damage. Apples and pears are good crops.
Pasturage was never in better condition than at present. Oats
are a heavy crop. Not much attention is paid to poultry for other
than home uses.

Dalton (Wesley B. Barton). — Corn is about half a crop.
Rowen will not be more than a third of a normal crop. Potatoes
made a good yield, but are rotting badly. There will be half a
crop of apples and pears. Pastures are in good condition. Oats
and barley are full crops. Perhaps 10 per cent of our farmers
give poultry the attention it should have for good results. The
early drought held everything back so as to delay work, and when
the rush came help was scarce.

Windsor (H. A. Ford). — There is little prospect of Indian
corn maturing any grain. Rowen never looked better. Potatoes
have nearly all blighted, and are rotting. Apples look quite well.
Pasturage was never in better condition at this time of year.
Oats and barley never gave better crops. Three-fourths of our
farmers give poultry the attention it should have for good results.

Williarnstown (S. A. Hickox). — Indian corn promises to give
but little over half a crop. Rowen will be nearly a normal crop.
Blight and rot have appeared on potatoes. Apples are a good
crop ; other fruits light. Pasturage is in good condition. Oats
and barley have compared well with former years. About a tenth
of our farmers give poultry the attention it should have for good
results.

FRANKLIN COUNTY.

Hawley (C. C. Fuller). — Indian corn is light and backward.
Hay was cut late, so rowen is below a normal crop. Late potatoes
were looking well, but blight has struck them this week. Fruit is
scarce. Pastures are above the normal in condition. Oats and
barley are average crop. About half our farmers give poultry the
attention it should receive for good results.

Leyden (U. T. Darling) . — Corn is very small for the time of
year, and but a small portion of it will mature. An average crop
of rowen will be secured. Potatoes are looking well, although
blight has struck some fields. There will be a small crop of apples
and pears ; no peaches or grapes. Pasturage is in good condition.
Oats and barley are better than average crops. A very small per-

u

tion of our farmers give poultry the attention it should have for
good results.

Shelburne (Geo, E. Taylor). — Indian corn is three weeks late,
and will not give over half a crop. Rowen never promised better
than now. Prospect good for late potatoes, but have noticed
some blight and rot. Apples will not be more than one-fourth of
a crop. Pasturage is fresh and plenty. Only a very few do the
best they might with poultry.

Whately (Frank Dickinson). — Indian corn is late and poor.
The prospect for the rowen crop is good. Late potatoes are a
good crop, and neither blight nor rot has appeared. Acreage of
tobacco average ; condition below normal. Apples are about half
a ci'op of good quality. Pastures are in good condition. Oats are
a fair crop. Not more than one in twenty of our farmers give
poultry the attention it should have for good results.

Leverett ( W. L. Boutwell) . — Corn is in poor condition. Those
who cut their hay early have a good crop of rowen. The prospect
for late potatoes is poor, and I have noticed blight. Tobacco is
in poor condition. The prospect is not good for fruit of all kinds.
Pasturage is in excellent condition. Oats and barley have given
better crops than usual. Very few of our farmers give poultry the
attention it should have for good results.

Montague (C. S. Raymond). — The growth of fodder on Indian
corn is fair, but unless frost holds off the grain will be a poor crop.
Rowen promises better than an average crop. Potatoes will not
give over 80 per cent of a crop ; blight heavy, but no rot as yet.
Acreage of tobacco about as usual, but condition poor. There
will be very little fruit of any kind. Pasturage is in very good
condition so far, but will soon fail unless we have rain. Oats and
barley are about three-fourths crops. About 15 per cent of our
farmers give poultry the care it should have for good results.

Northfield (T. R. Callender). — Corn is very late, and the
season must be a long one to perfect the crop. Rowen is fully up
to the average. Potatoes are looking well, with little blight or rot.
Acreage of tobacco about the same as usual, with growth small.
Apples uneven, but probably an average crop. Pasturage is bet-
ter than usual at this season. Oats and barley are above average
crops. Less than 5 per cent of our farmers give poultry the atten-
tion it should have for good results. The hay crop proved to be
fully up to the average. Cucumbers for pickling are a partial
failure.

Erving (C. F. Clark). — Indian corn is in very poor condition.
The prospect for the rowen crop is fair. Potatoes are a fair crop.

15

with some blight. There will be a medium crop of apples, pears
and grapes. Pasturage is in very good condition. Oats and bar-
ley compare favorably with former years. Not more than half of
our farmers give poultry the attention it should have for good
results.

Orange (A. C. White). — Indian corn is in very poor condition.
Rowen promises to be a good crop. Potatoes have blighted, and
will give but a small yield. This is an off year for all kinds of
fruit. Pasturage is in normal condition. Oats and barley com-
pare well in yield with former years. Very few of our farmers,
perhaps 5 per cent, give poultry the care it should have for good
results.

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.

Prescott (W. F. Wendermuth). — Corn is very late, and not
maturing well ; there is some rust, and much of the crop will not
mature unless frost holds off very late. The rowen crop will be
better than normal. The prospect for late potatoes is good, with
not much blight or rot as yet. Apples are very nearly an average
off-year crop ; pears normal ; grapes good ; no peaches or cran-
berries. Pastures are in extra good condition for the time of year.
Oats and barley are rather better crops than usual. About one-
fourth of our farmers give poultry the attention it should have for
good results.

Belchertoton (H. C. West). — Indian corn is growing fast on
some good fields, but as a whole is not over a three-fourths crop.
There will be a full average crop of rowen. Potatoes are more
than an average crop, with ver}- little blight noticed. Apples fair ;
no peaches ; few pears ; grapes fair. Pasturage is in fairly good
condition for the season. Oats are more than an average crop';
barley fair crop. Not over 10 per cent of our farmers give poultry
the care it should have for good results.

Hadley (H. C. Russell). — Corn is very late and of small
growth, and it is doubtful if the grain will mature to be worth
much. Rowen is excellent where the first crop was cut early.
Late potatoes are looking well; blight has appeared on some fields,
but is not general. Tobacco is improving very fast of late, and
the prospect is good for a fair crop, but not up to the average.
Fruit is very limited in quantity and quality. Pasturage is good,
and grain promises well.

Granhy (Geo. A. Blish). — Indian corn is very backward.
Rowen promises to be an extra good crop. Potatoes are a fair
average crop, with little blight. Fruit of all kinds is scarce.

16

Pasturage is fully up to the average in condition. Oats and
barley are normal crops. A very small proportion of our farmers
give poultry the attention it should have for good results.

Hatfield (Thaddeus Graa^es). — Indian corn is about half a
crop. Rowen will be above an average crop. Potatoes promise
about a normal yield ; a little of both blight and rot has been
noticed, but not as much as usual. There are some good crops
of tobacco, but most fields are faded and spindling ; possibly a
two-thirds crop, as a whole. Pastures are in good condition.
Oats and barley are little raised. Nearly all farmers, including
myself, neglect and abuse poultry.

Easthampton (Wm. E. Clapp). — There are some good fields
of corn, but for the most part it is very backward. There will be
more than a normal crop of rowen. There is a good crop of
potatoes, with not much blight. Acreage of tobacco about the
same as usual, and the crop looks well. Apples scarce ; also
peaches ; grapes plenty. Pasturage is in very good condition.
Oats are a good crop. A large proportion of our farmers give
poultry the care it should have for good results.

Westhavipton (H. A. Parsons). — Indian corn is in very poor
condition, and will not yield over half a crop. Rowen is a full
normal crop. Blight and rot will damage potatoes grown on low
ground. The acreage of tobacco is about the same as usual, and
the prop looks well. No peaches ; half a crop of apples ; not
many pears. Pastures are in good condition. There is no barley,
and oats will be a light crop. Not over half of our farmers give
poultry the attention it should have for good results.

Williamsburg (F. C. Richards). — Corn never was poorer, and
there has been no development, it being all stalks with no ears to
ripen. Rowen will be far above an average crop. Late potatoes
have blighted badly. The acreage of tobacco is smaller than
usual, and the crop is in poor condition. Apples a one-third
crop ; pears a one-fourth crop ; no peaches. Pasturage is in the
very best condition. Oats and barley are full average crops.
None of our farmers give poultry the care it should have for good
results.

Chesterfield (Horatio Bisbee) . — Locally Indian corn is about
a failure. Rowen is looking well. The potato crop is very un-
even ; there is some blight and rot, and some fields will yield well,
while others will not. There are some apples ; think the crop a
fair one for the odd year. Feed is very good in pastures, and
stock is doing well. Oats and barley are good crops. A very
small proportion only of our farmers give poultry the care it should
have for good results.

17

HAMPDEN COUNTY.

Blandford (E. W. Boise). — Corn is a poor crop, almost a total
failure. The prospect for rowen is good, and there should be
fully 25 per cent more secured than usual. Potatoes are a full
normal crop, with no blight or rot. Apples and pears are above
the normal for the oflf j'ear. Pasturage is in extra good condition.
Oats and barley are about 90 per cent of normal crops. Very
few of our farmers, perhaps 10 per cent, give poultry the care it
should have for good results. Much hay yet remains to be cut,
and it is more like rowen than hay and requires much time to
cure.

Tolland (E. M. Moore). — Indian corn is very poor and late.
Rowen will be a good average crop. Potatoes have blighted, and
are rotting somewhat. The apple crop will be a light one ; some
pears ; no grapes ; quite a good crop of cranberries. Feed is
getting short in pastures. A very small proportion of our fax'mers
give poultry the attention it should have for good results.

Southwick (L. A. Fowler). — Indian corn is backward. Rowen
is a better crop than the usual average. Late potatoes are not as
good as the early crop, and in many cases will yield poor returns.
Acreage of tobacco about the same as usual, and condition below
normal, but much better than that in the near-by towns. There
is very little fruit of any kind. Pasturage is in good condition.
Oats and barley compare favorably with former years. The pro-
portion of our farmers who give poultry the care it should have for
good results is less than 5 per cent.

West Springfield (J. N. Bagg). — Corn is in good condition,
and is a rank crop on good land. Rowen will be better than a
normal crop. The prospect is good for late potatoes, with no
blight or rot and few potato bugs. The acreage of tobacco is less
than usual. Apples and peaches light ; pears and grapes good.
Pastures are in good condition. Oats and barley have been fair
crops for forage ; none grown for grain. But a small proportion
of our farmers give poultry the care it should have for good results.

Ludloio (C. B. Bennett). — Indian corn is in very poor condi-
tion. The prospect for the rowen crop is good. Potatoes will
give a fair crop, if they do not rot. There will be no fruit of any
kind. Pastures are in good condition. Oats and barley are about
normal crops. About half our farmers give poultry the attention it
should have for good results. A large hay crop has been gathered,
in first-class shape.

Wilhraham (H. M. Bliss), — Indian corn is backwaid, and will
be a very light crop. Rowen will be nearly a normal crop. The

18

prospect is good for late potatoes, and no blight or rot has appeared.
Apples are a little better than half a crop ; pears 10 per cent ; no
peaches ; grapes nearly a full crop ; cranberries nearly half a crop.
Pasturage is in good condition. Oats and barley are good crops.
One-tenth of our fanners give poultry the attention it should have
for good results.

Hampden (J. N. Isham). — Corn is about ten days late, but
has been doing well for the past two weeks. Rowen is late on
many fields, and will be less than a full crop. Potatoes have been
growing finely, and show neither blight nor rot. Winter apples
are a light crop ; fall apples plenty ; pears and grapes fair. Pas-
tures are holding out well, although now in need of rain. Oats are
a good crop, but are mostly cut green. Interest in poultry has
increased rapidly of late, and comparatively few neglect poultry ;
the profit in the business brings increased care.

Wales (G. S. Rogers). — Indian corn is in very poor condition.
There will be a light crop of rowen, owing to the first crop being
cut so late. Late potatoes are good, with no blight or rot to be
seen. Apples are a fair crop for the odd year. Pastures are in
very good condition. Oats and barley have been fairly good crops.
Very few farmers take the proper care of poultry for good results.

Palmer (O. P. Allen). — Corn is very backward, and will be a
light crop. The prospect for the rowen crop is not as good as
usual. Potatoes promise well, and have not noticed blight. There
will be a very light crop of fruit. Pasturage is not in as good
condition as usual. Oats and barley are not up to average crops.
Only a small percentage of our farmers give poultry the care it
should have for good results.

WORCESTER COUNTY.

Warren (W. E. Patrick). — The condition of Indian corn is
very poor, and it is doubtful if any of it will mature sufficiently
to harvest. The prospect for rowen is good, but hardly up to the
average. The prospect is good for late potatoes ; there are some
cases of blight, but less than usual. There is a fair crop of apples
for the off year ; few pears ; no peaches. Pasturage is in better
condition than usual at this season of the year. Oats are better
than for several years. The proportion of our farmers who give
poultry the care needed for good results is too small to estimate.

Spencer (H. H. Kingsbury). — Corn is in an unsatisfactory
condition, with a slim prospect for any maturing. The indica-
tions are favorable for a full crop of rowen. No blight or rot
has been seen thus far on potatoes, and there is prospect of a good

19

crop. There will be a fair crop of apples ; few pears ; no peaches
or grapes. Pasturage is in good shape. There is a large oat crop,
which has been harvested as fodder. But few give poultry the
proper care to get the best results.

Oakham (Jesse Atxen). — Indian corn is in very poor condi-
tion. The prospect is that there will be about a two-thirds crop
of rowen. The prospect for late potatoes is good, and there is
no blight or rot as yet. There will be a one-third crop "of apples,
few pears and grapes, and no peaches. Pastures are in excellent
condition. Oats and barley are fine crops. The proportion of
our farmers who give poultry the care it should have for good
results is about one-third.

Eubbardston (C. C. Colby). — Corn is very backward, and the
prospect is for from about 60 to 70 per cent of the normal crop.
Rowen is looking well, and will be above the average. Early
potatoes were nearly a failure, but the late planted will be a good
crop. Only a few orchards will have any apples, and those only
a light yield. Pasturage has been excellent this season, and is in
good condition at this time. Oats and other grains have made a
good growth, quite a little above the average. Onlyii few of our
farmers keep poultry for other than home consumption.

Philh'pston (A. D. Clifford). — Indian corn is in the worst
condition I have ever known at this time of year. Rowen is bet-
ter than usual. I have not noticed any blight on potatoes as yet.
There will be no peaches, and very few apples or other fruits.
Pastures are in good condition. Oats and barley are usually
raised for hay here, and are an average crop. Probably not a
third of our farmers give poultry the care it should have for good
results.

Templeton (Lucien Gove). — Corn is very late, and under the
most favorable conditions 'only a small portion of the crop will
mature. On early cut fields the outlook for rowen is quite promis-
ing, for clover especially. There is some complaint of blight on
potatoes, and the crop will not be heavy. Apples and pears light ;
no peaches ; grapes light. Pasturage is in good condition for the
time of year. Oats and barley are fair average crops, nothing
more. Possibly 25 per cent of our farmers give poultry the care
it should have for good results and the industry is growing.

Ashhurnham (E. D. Gibson). — Field and sweet corn is just
beginning to silk, and ensilage corn is very backward. Hay was
cut too late to allow rowen to grow. There are no home-grown
potatoes in the market, and a light yield is anticipated. Apples
light ; pears very light ; no peaches ; cranberries fair. Pastures
are in good condition. Oats and barley are light crops for grain.

20

Not a third of our farmers give poultry the care it should have for
good results.

Bolton (H. F. Haynes). — ludiau corn is in very poor condi-
tion. Rowen will be a full normal crop. Late potatoes will be a
small crop ; blight has appeared on some fields ; no rot as yet.
There are very few apples and no cranberries or peaches. Pastures
are in good condition. Oats and barley were all cut for hay, and
were rather light croi)S. Very few if any of our farmers give
poultry the care it should have for good results. The hay crop is
the heaviest for years.

Holden (G. S. Graham). — Corn is about half a crop, but looks
better than earlier in the season. The prospect for the rowen crop
is very good. The prospect for potatoes is not as good as usual,
and blight has appeared. Apples seem to be plenty ; no peaches
or grapes. Pasturage is in as good condition as usual for the time
of year. Oats and barley are better crops than for the last two
years. Only a small proportion of our farmers give poultry the
care it should have for good results.

Northboroi/gh (.1. K. Mills). — Corn is very uneven, and it
looks as though there would be a small crop. There will be a
good crop of rowen. There will not be a large crop of potatoes,
and there is some blight and rot. There will be a fair crop of
apples, pears and grapes, but no peaches. Pastures have been
very good and are holding out well. There was a good crop of
oats. Ninety per cent of our farmers give poultry the care it
should have for good results.

SoiUhborough (E. F. Collins). — Indian corn is very late, but
early fields are earing out well. There will be more than an aver-
age crop of rowen. Early potatoes are a good crop, but show
blight somewhat. Apples are a good crop ; more Baldwins than
last year. Pasturage is in the best eondition for years. About
half of our farmers give poultry the care it should have for good
results.

Auburn (Wm. Gilbert). — Indian corn is very light, but is
growing very rapidly now. Rowen is a good crop, far above the
average. Late potatoes yield well ; some blight and rot. Apples,
pears and grapes are fair crops. Pastures were never better at
this time of year, but are getting short now. Oats and barley are
about 80 per cent of average crops. About half our farmers give
poultry the care it should have for good results.

Sutton (C. P. King). — Indian corn is poor and very backward.
Rowen is starting well, except on some newly seeded fields. Late
potatoes are a good crop, with no rot as yet. Apples fair; no
peaches ; cranberries good. Pasturage is good and green. Oats

21

are a heavy crop. Two in a hundretl of our farmers give poultry
the care it should have for best results.

Hopedcde (Delano Patuick). — Corn was never more backward.
Rowen is a very good crop, better than usual. Potatoes are a
good crop, and no blight or rot are apparent. There will be but
few apples and pears ; no peaches ; grapes less than average.
Pastures are in much better than average condition. Not one-
tenth of our farmers give poultry the care it should have for good
results.

Blackstone (O. F. Fuller). — Indian corn is backward. There
will be a good crop of rowen. Potatoes are showing some signs
of rot. There will be a very small crop of fruit here. Pasturage
is in fair condition. Oats and barley have compared favorably
with former years. Very few of our farmers give poultry the care
it should have for good results.

MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

HopMnton (W.V.Thompson). — Indian corn is three weeks
late, and not up to the average in appearance. The prospect is
good for the rowen crop. The prospect for late potatoes is fairly
good, with no sign of blight or rot. This being the off year, apples
are a poor crop ; pears fairly good ; no peaches ; grapes half a crop.
Pasturage is in good condition for the time of year. Poultry
is made a specialty by most of those giving it attention in this
vicinity.

Sherborn (N. B. Douglas). — Corn is in very poor condition.
Rowen will be more than an average crop. Potatoes are looking
extremely well, with no rot or blight. Apples are half a crop ;
pears 40 per cent ; no peaches. Pastures are in better condition
than usual. Oats and barley are raised as forage crops, and
yielded heavily. One in ten of our farmers gives poultry the care
it should have for good results.

Sudbxiry (E. W. Goodnow). Indian corn is looking well, but
is backward. The prospect for rowen is favorable. Late potatoes
are looking fairly well, but show blight. Fruit of all kinds is poor
and scarce. Pasturage is looking well. Oats and barley are above
the average, compared with former years. Very few farmers give
poultry the care they should for good results.

Maynard (L H. JMaynahu). — Indian corn is in very poor con-
dition, and it is doubtful if any of the crop matures, owing to cold,
wet weather. Rowen will be above an average crop. Late potatoes
promise well, with no blight or rot as yet. Apples are half a crop,
and very poor in quality ; pears about half a crop ; no peaches ;

22

grapes half a crop. Pastures look well, owing to cold, wet weather.
Oats were extra good, also barley, but were cut for fodder. Nearly
every farmer keeps a few hens, but we have no specialists in this
line.

Littleton (Geo. "W. Sanderson). — Indian corn is backward,
but has gained rapidly for the last twelve days, which also applies
to corn for the silo. Rowen is more than an average crop. Pota-
toes are a good crop, and no blight has been noticed. There is a
fair crop of early apples and a light crop of winter apples ; few
pears, grapes and cranberries. Pasturage is in excellent condi-
tion. There is a fair crop of oats and barley. Not one in a
hundred of our farmers gives poultry the care it should have for
good results.

Groton (Jas. P. Fitch). — If frosts hold off, corn may have a
chance to ripen. Late haying will make the rowen crop light.
No blight or rot on potatoes as yet. There will be some Baldwin
apples ; no peaches, grapes or cranberries. Pasturage is in good
condition. Oats and barley are fair crops. Perhaps 1 per cent
of our farmers give poultry the care it should have for good results.

Townseyul (G. A. Wilder). — Indian corn is in poor condition.
Rowen will be more than an average crop. Potatoes are a poor
crop, and are showing signs of rot. The prospect is very poor
for all kinds of fruit. Pastures are in good condition. Oats and .
barley are about normal crops. One-fourth of our farmers give
poultry the attention it should have for good results.

Chelmsford (P. P. Perham). — Corn is late, and in danger of
frost. The prospect is good for a good average crop of rowen.
Potatoes promise a light crop, and some blight is in sight. Apples
are in abundance in this vicinity ; peach crop a failure ; pears
and grapes good average crops. Pastures look finely. Oats and
barley promise well. The proportion of farmers who give proper
care to poultry is very small, less than one-half.

Carlisle (E. J. Carr). — Corn is in very poor condition, and
will not ear out to amount to anything. Rowen will be more than
a normal crop. Late potatoes are a good crop ; some blight, but
no rot. Apples and pears few ; no peaches or cranberries ; some
grapes. Pasturage is in more than average condition. About
one-tenth of our farmers give poultry the care it should have for
good results.

Teivksbury (G. PI Crosby). — Indian corn is not in very good
condition, but I am not prepared to say it is a failure, as yet.
Rowen promises to be better than an average crop. The prospect
for late potatoes is good, and there is very little indication of
blight. Apples as a whole are not over one-fourth of a crop ;

some pears ; no peaches. Pastures are iu good condition for the
time of year. Oats and barley are not grown for grain, but were
good as forage crops. Not one-tenth of our farmers give poultry
the care it should have for good results. Tomatoes are one of the
crops that came near being a failure ; but if the weather continues
to be as favorable as for a few days past, they may turn out better
than anticipated.

Winchester (S. S. Symmes). — The rowen crop will be heavy in
most places. Potatoes are unusually thrifty and good. There
will be a light crop of apples, a good crop of pears, and no peaches
or grapes. Pasturage is in very good condition. Oats and barley
are not raised. Very few of our farmers keep any poultry. To-
matoes and squashes are very backward, and it is doubtful if
squashes make a crop. Celery is also unusually backward.

Wakefield (Chas. Talbot). — Corn is a fair to good crop, but
will be somewhat later than usual. Rowen is 20 per cent better
than for years Late potatoes are fully up to the average, and
blight has not appeared as yet. Apples very few ; pears plenty ;
grapes normal ; cranberries a very light crop. Pastures were
never in better condition. Oats are looking well, except a few
fields which show some rust. Not over 5 per cent of our farmers
give poultry the care it should have for good results.

ESSEX COUNTY.

Haverhill (Eben Webster). — Indian corn is smaller and later
than usual, and the prospect is not encouraging. A good crop of
rowen is expected. The prospect is that late potatoes will be a
better crop than early ones ; no blight or rot. Apples will be a
one-third crop ; few pears and grapes ; no peaches. Pasturage is
in very good condition. About one-third of our farmers give
poultry the care it should have for good results.

Andover (M. H. Gould). — Corn has a poor stand, and is very
backward. Rowen is much above an average crop. Blight and
rot have appeared somewhat on late potatoes. Apples poor ; no
pears or peaches ; some grapes ; cranberries a two-thirds crop.
Pastures are in very good condition. Oats and barley arc very
little raised. About 20 per cent of our farmers give poultry the
care it should have for good results.

Roioley (D. H. O'Brien). — Indian corn is in very poor condi-
tion. The prospect is very good for rowen. Potatoes are back-
ward and blighting. Apples and pears are a small crop, and
other fruits are almost total failures. Pasturage is in good con-
dition. Oats and barley are about average crops. About half

24

our farmers give poultry the care it should have for good
results.

Topsjiehl (B. P. Pike). — Not over 10 per cent of a crop of
corn is promised, and if we should have an early frost there would
not be any sound corn. Rowen will be an average crop, but will
be late. Late potatoes will be a poor crop, with some blight.
Apples are not over a quarter of a crop ; pears a small crop ; no
peaches, grapes or cranberries. Pastures are in good condition.
Oats and barley are not raised for grain. Half our farmers give
poultry the care it should have for good results.

Wenhcwi (N. P. Perkins). — Not much corn is raised except
for the silo. There is prospect of a fair crop of rowen on early
planted fields, but many fields were mowed rather late. Potatoes
are rather small, but have quite a number in the hill ; not much
rot has been noticed. Apples are a larger crop than usual for an
off year ; pears are a fair ^rop, and of good size ; no peaches,
grapes or cranberries. Pasturage has been quite good, but has
growu rather short now. Not more than one-fourth of our farm-
ers give poultry the care it should have for good results. Squashes
are very small aud backward, also late cabbages and carrots. A
late fall will be a great help to all crops.

Manchester (John Baker). — Indian corn is in poor condition,
and this is not a corn year. Rowen will be better than a normal
crop. Late potatoes are a good crop, with no blight or rot. Pears
fair ; no peaches ; few apples or grapes. Pastures are in excellent
condition. Oats and barley are good crops, better than usual.
Very little care is given to poultry.

NORFOLK COUNTY.

Randolph (R. A. Thayer). — Indian corn is two weeks late,
and does not promise a full crop. Rowen looks like a good aver-
age crop. Late potatoes look well, and no blight has appeared as
yet. Apples are a small crop ; pears good ; peaches none ; grapes
poor. Pasturage is in excellent condition for the season. Oats
and barley were used for forage, and made good average crops.
Very few farmers pay much attention to poultry.

Canton (E. V. Kinsley). — Corn is very backward. Rowen
will be above an average crop. Late potatoes look well, with no
blight to date. Apples are a light crop ; pears heavy ; other fruits
light. Pasturage is in good condition for the time of year. Oats
and barley are average crops. None of our farmers give poultry
the care it should have for good results. Dairy cows have done
well, and the supply of milk is ample.

25

Norioood (F. A. Fales). — Indian corn is thirty days late.
Rowen will be a good crop. Potato vines are looking well, and
do not show blight as yet. There will be a very small crop of
apples, and fair crops of pears, grapes and cranberries. Pastures
are in first-rate condition. Oats and barley are about three-fourths
crops. About a fourth of our farmers give poultry the attention it
should have for good results.

Walpole (E. L. Shepard). — Indian corn is backward. Hay-
ing coming so late, rowen is a small crop, but looks well for fall
feed. Potatoes look well, and no blight or rot has been noticed.
Apples, pears and grapes are half crops ; no peaches ; few cran-
berries. Pastures are looking well. Oats and barley are average
crops. Perhaps 15 per cent of our farmers give poultry the care
it should have for good results.

Millis (E. F. Richardson). — Corn is very backward. Rowen
will be better than an average crop. Blight has appeared on late
potatoes. There will be no cranberries, and other fruits will be
rather short, except pears. Pasturage is in good condition. Oats
and barley are good crops. Half our farmers give poultry the
care it should have for good results.

Franklin (C. M. Allen). — Corn will not be an average crop.
Rowen will be more than an average crop. The prospect is very
good for late potatoes, and neither blight nor rot has appeared.
All fruits will give very light yields. Pasturage is in excellent
condition. Oats and barley are not more than average crops.
There are only a few specialists in poultry in this vicinity. Many
of our farmers keep a small flock of hens, which have the run of
the farm and do well in summer, but they get very few eggs in
winter.

BRISTOL COUNTY.

Attleborough (Isaac Alger). — Indian corn will give some fod-
der, but not much corn. The prospect for rowen is poor. Late
potatoes are looking well. Few apples ; pears poor ; no peaches
or grapes. Pastures are in good condition. Oats and barley are
average crops. One in a hundred of our farmers gives poultry the
care it should have for good results. Cranberries were all destroyed
by late spring frosts, except where the bogs could be flooded, so
the crop is ver}' small this season.

Norton (Wm. A. Lane). — Corn is looking fairly well now, and
will be a fair crop if the season holds out, but is late. Rowen
promises to be a very good crop. Neither blight nor rot has
appeared on potatoes. Apples will be a very light crop. Pas-
tures have been good, and look well now. Oats are a large crop

20

this year. A majority of our farmers raise some poultry, and get
good results from it.

Berkley (R. H. Babbitt). — Indian corn is very backward,
and will not make more than half an average crop. Rowen is
full jUp to an average crop. Late potatoes will not be a very
good crop, as they are rotting badly. Apples light ; pears plenty ;
no peaches ; grapes few ; cranberries much below the average.
Pastures are in very good condition. Oats and barley are a little
less than average crops. Not more than one in ten of our farmers
gives poultry the care it should have for good results.

Sivansea (F. G. Arnold). — Corn is about two weeks late, but
looks very fair, and with hot weather will be all right There
will be about a normal crop of rowen. Yield of late potatoes fair,
but both blight and rot have appeared in fields not sprayed to pre-
vent them. Few apples; no peaches; pears and grapes quite
plenty. Pastures are in good condition. Oats were a good crop.
A very small proportion of our farmers give poultry the care it
should have for good results.

Dartmouth (L. T. Davis). — Indian corn is still below its nor-
mal condition at this time of year. Rowen will perhaps be half
or two-thirds of a normal crop. Late potatoes do not promise
very well, and show some rot. Apples 40 per cent of a full crop ;
pears 20 per cent ; no peaches ; grapes 65 per cent. Pasturage
is still in good condition. Oats and barley are mainly raised for
forage crops. Perhaps half our farmers give poultry the care it
should have for good results.

Acushnet (M. S. Douglas). — Indian corn is about two weeks
late. Rowen will be a normal crop. Late potatoes have been
struck by blight, no rot as yet. Apples are scarce; no peaches or
grapes; pears plentiful. Pasturage is in fairly good condition.
Oats are extra good. About half our farmers give poultry the care
it should have for good results.

PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

Norwell (H. A. Turner). — Indian corn is very backward.
Rowen is probably an average crop on land that was mowed early.
Some fields of potatoes appear to be blighted. Apples are a short
crop ; peaches and grapes a failure ; pears good ; cranberries pretty
fair. Pasturage is in very good condition. Oats and barley are
about average crops. Very few give poultry the care it should
have for good results.

Brockton (Davis Copeland). — Corn is late, but some fields
show good growth of stalks. With the frequent showers we are
having, rowen is looking well. The prospect for late potatoes is

27

good if they do not rot, but blight has appeared. Very few apples ;
fair crop of pears ; no peaches. Pastures are in good couditiou.
Most of our farmers have more or less poultry, with good results.

Kingston (Geo L. Churchill). — Indian corn is a very light
crop. Roweu is a fair crop, and on low meadows about an average
one. Potatoes look fairly well, but show some blight. There will
be a small crop of apples ; no peaches ; grapes scai'ce ; cranberries
a medium crop. Pastures are in very fair condition. Oats and
barley little raised. Very few of our farmers keep much poultry.

Plympton (Winthrop Fillebrown) . — This has been rather a
poor season for corn, and it did not ear out well. There will be
an unusual crop of rowen. Where late potatoes were sprayed,
there will be a good crop ; but blight and rot are troubling other
fields. There will be few apples ; a good crop of pears ; few
peaches. Cranberry bogs that were flowed during the spring frosts
have an excellent crop. Pasturage is in very fair condition. Oats
and barley are of better quality than usual. About 75 per cent of
the farmers that keep any amount of poultry care for them intel-
ligently.

Lakeville (N. G. Staples). — Indian corn is two or three weeks
late. Rowen promises about a normal crop. Potatoes are turning
out well, but show some blight and rot. Pears are a fair crop ;
grapes fair ; cranberries fair. Pasturage is in a little better con-
dition than commonly. Oats and barley are about average crops.
About 5 per cent of our farmers give poultry the care it should
have for good results.

Rochester (Geo. H. Randall) . — Corn has made a rapid growth,
but is somewhat backward for this date. Rowen is about an aver-
age crop. Late potatoes give a good yield, but blight is quite
general. Cranberries are half a crop ; apples one-fourth ; pears a
full crop ; very few peaches and grapes. Pastures are in better
condition than usual for August. Oats and barley are less than
average crops. The care of poultry is neglected by most farmers,
especially through the hot weather, when other things are pressing.

Wareham (A. B. Savary). — Corn is a good crop. There will
be a normal crop of rowen. The prospect is good for late pota-
toes, and neither blight nor rot has api)eared. The prospect is
poor for all kinds of fruit. Pasturage is in fair condition. Oats
and barley are not raised except for forage. Not over 5 per cent
of our farmers give poultry the care it should have for good results.

BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
Bourne (D. D. Nye). — Indian corn is in very good condition.
Rowen is good as compared with a normal crop. No late potatoes
are grown. Apples, pears, grapes and cranberries are nearly up

28

to last year's crops. Pasturage is in very good condition. Oats
and barley are raised for forage crops, and are looking well.
There are few good poultrymen among our farmers, but a few
make a specialty of poultry, with a very little farming.

Mashpee (W. F. Hammond). — Corn is very backward, but is
improving. There will be about half a crop of rowen. Late
pototoes promise to yield well. Apples, pears and peaches half
crops ; grapes and cranberries two-thirds crops. Pastures are be-
low average in condition. Oats are less than an average crop.
There are but four of our farmers who pay any attention to poul-
try, and they have had very poor results this year.

Barnstable (John Btirsley). — Corn is in very poor condition.
Rowen will be less than an average crop. The prospect for late
potatoes is fair, and no blight has been noted. Apples good ;
pears and peaches very light ; grapes and cranberries fair. Pas-
turage is in poor condition at present. Oats are more than an
average crop. One-fourth of our farmers give poultry the care it
should have for good results.

Brewster (Thos. D. Sears). — Indian corn is very backward,
and there will be a small crop. The outlook is for a good crop
of rowen. The prospect is good for late potatoes, but there are
signs of rot. There will be a fair crop of apples, pears and cran-
berries ; not many peaches and grapes grown. Pastures are in
quite good condition, but rain is needed to carry them out. Oats
are an average crop. A very small proportion of our farmers
give poultry the care it should have to make a success.

Chatham (E. Z. Ryder). — Indian corn is looking well, and
promises a fair crop. Rowen will give more than an average
crop. Late potatoes look finely, with no blight or rot. There
will be about an average crop of all kinds of fruit. Pasturage is
in better condition than for several years. Oats are an average
crop. Very few farmers give much time to poultry ; most of
them keep a flock of hens or ducks, which they give plenty of
corn and water, but which must otherwise shift for themselves.

Wdlfieet (E. S. Jacobs). — Corn looks favorably, but is a little
backward, owing to late planting. Rowen will be a much larger
crop than usual. Potatoes are excellent, with no blight or rot.
Apples and cranberries will be the leading fruit crops in quantity
and quality. Pastures are looking nicely. No oats or barley are
grown. Not more than one-third of the care and attention is
given poultry that should be to warrant success.

29

BULLETIN OF
MASSACHUSETTS BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

THE MANAGEMENT OF POULTRY ON SMALL FARMS.

By John H. Robinson, Editor Farm-Poultry, Bosto7i, Mass.

A large farm offers the best opportunity to keep poultry with
little labor and comparatively large profits, but the owner of the
large farm is not often much interested in poultry. It is the small
farmers, under necessity of making the most of every opportunity
to make money on their land, who are attracted by the possibilities
of poultry culture. As personally and through correspondence I
have for the last six years come in contact with owners and renters
of small farms in the eastern States, and especially in Massachu-
setts, Rhode Island and Connecticut, who are trying to make a
specialty of poultry, I have found that the most troublesome im-
pediment to the development of their plans was the want of a
method suitable to their circumstances.

A very large percentage of the small New England farms are of
such dimensions and proportions that the fowls kept cannot be
given liberty except at the risk of their trespassing on the land of
neighbors. Because of this, many small farmers interested in
poultry have adopted the intensive methods which small poultry
keepers in towns often find necessary, but which large poultry
keepers and farmers ought to avoid.

Intensive methods make the care of poultry a grind and drudgery,
monopolizing the keeper's time to such an extent that it is almost
fully occupied in caring for a few hundred fowls. Indeed, I have
seen a great many people keeping poultry by such intensive
methods that they hardly dared leave home for an hour for fear of
disarranging their carefully balanced system, and could never by
any possibility make a living by their methods if it became neces-
sary for them to try to make their living from poultry. Many

30

farmers who have adopted intensive methods and found them for
a while profitable have neglected other lines of farm work ; while
others, unwilling to give time to poultry to the neglect of other
farm work, have reluctantly given up the idea of increasing their
stock of fowls. The best solution of the problem of the small
farmer who wants to keep a few hundred hens, and still give most
of his time to and use most of his land for other things, will be
found, I think, in the adoption of methods intermediate between
the intensive methods of the town lot poultry keeper and the free
and easy methods which work well on large farms.

For more than a decade now the interest of poultry keepers has
been almost monopolized by intensive methods. Periodically the
colony system has been illustrated and described, and has attracted
some attention ; but outside of localities where it was developed it
has as yet made little impression, though within the last two years
interest in the colony plan seems to be rather more general and
more persistent. Intermediate methods have been used in isolated
instances quite numerous collectively, yet few in comparison with
the number of poultry keepers ; and I suppose any one who would
take the trouble to look the matter up would find that intermediate
methods had not been as much neglected by writers on poultry
matters as the failure of readers generally to become interested in
them would be presumed to indicate.

Just why more people have not been interested in the methods
theoretically best adapted to their circumstances is to me some-
thing of a puzzle. Perhaps it is because most of us are imitative,
and prone to do things the way we see most of those about us
doing them, or as those who seem to be successful tell us they
do them. For some years now poultry men have been keenly inter-
ested in the development of great egg producers, and in making
records of large average egg production. Intensive methods are
required to secure high averages, as well as to enable one to
closely watch individual performance of laying hens. It has been
customary to estimate profits in poultry keeping on the average
difference between cost of feed and value of eggs or poultry pro-
duced, and to make comparisons of the work of different flocks
on this basis, no figures being furnished for and no account made
of the time spent in caring for the fowls and of differences in
value or cost of labor. It has generally been taken for granted
that the man or woman who could get the largest individual egg
yield or the highest average was the most successful poultry
keeper. However that may appear at first glance, it is easily
discovered, by any one in a position to investigate, that the large
egg yield is often obtained at such cost of care and food that,

31

while the average profit per hen figures large, the poultry keeper's
pay for his time figures small. It is a general fact, easily veri-
fied, that the poultry keepers who get the most satisfactory net
results in money in most cases get only very ordinary egg yields.
Their results are satisfactory, their work is workmanlike, and
their venture stands on a business basis, because their modest re-
sults give good pay for time and effort required to produce them.

The man who has only a little land and can use it all for poultry
and could use none of it for anything else will find intensive
methods of poultry keeping the best for him ; but I am convinced,
from what I have seen of such plants, that as a rule the proprie-
tors work harder for what they get, and are more tied to their
work by the inevitable daily routine, than if they had more room
and could use an easier system ; and I rarely find one of these
poultry keepers who would not gladly change to a location where
he could have more room and an easier system. But, having
once adopted the intensive system, a man whose land does not
furnish room for a change cannot often make a change of systems
except by changing location and making sacrifices he cannot afford
to make. So he goes on with the intensive system, keeping many
fowls on a small plot of ground, and doing for the fowls or work-
ing to compel them to do many of the things they do for themselves
under more natural conditions. It is only so that in his circum-
stances and by his methods he can make a day's wages by a day's
work.

By the colony system the owner of a large farm will distribute
his fowls over the farm, and, by giving them room and range,
relieves himself of the necessity of doing for them many of the
things which the poultry keeper who uses intensive methods must
do daily.

To illustrate : When fowls are confined in small yards, the grass
is so quickly killed out, or at best so soiled by the fowls, that they
eat only a little of it, — and that little under protest, — and do
not get green food in quality and quantity proportionate to their
needs, unless it is especially given to them. To get green stuff
for a considerable number of fowls so confined sometimes taxes
the ingenuity of the keeper, besides consuming time and occasion-
ing more or less cash outlay.

Similarly with meat food. Fowls confined to small yards —
either yards that are actually small or those that are small for the
number of fowls occupying them — soon exhaust the supply of
worms and grubs near the surface, and the occasional fiying in-
sects which come within their reach are as nothing compared to
what they would get if foraging over a good range. To compen-

32

sate for this lack, the keeper must provide something. Whatever
he provides costs something in time or money, — often in both.

Then, as to exercise : Fowls at liberty naturally and voluntarily
take sufficient exercise to keep them in good condition. They may
take more exercise than is consistent with economy of food con-
sumed, but the error is on the right side when looked at from the
point of view of one who is trying to save labor. Fowls in confine-
ment usually have to be compelled to take exercise. The grain fed
them is buried in litter, and to get it they must scratch it out. Va-
rious other expedients to assure the keeper that the fowls will get
needed exercise are in vogue. When the fowls are confined, com-
pulsory exercise seems to be needed to keep them in good condi-
tion,— some experiments made to determine comparative merits
of exercise and no-exercise systems to the contrary notwithstand-
ing. Volume of egg production for a short period is not the only
standard to be applied in making such tests. In matters of this
kind the consensus of opinion of many intelligent and observant
poultrymen, noting for themselves the general differences in re-
sults by the two systems, is apt to be more nearly correct than the
conclusions of experimenters. Experiments have generally indi-
cated no noteworthy advantage from exercise, when comparison
was made of results of keeping similar lots of fowls under such
conditions that one lot got its food without exercise, and, being
confined, took no exercise worth speaking of, and another lot
worked busily all day long for what food the fowls in it got. But
in some of these experiments it would appear that perhaps the ex-
ercised hens had to take too much exercise for their good. Expe-
rience has roughly demonstrated that exercise (compulsory, when
it would not otherwise be taken) is a practical if not an absolute
necessity. I know a poultry farmer who keeps fowls through the
winter without exercise enough to keep them in good condition.
He almost always has eggs in fair supply in early winter and in
abundance through mid-winter, but his hens are very apt toward
spring to get too fat, to their detriment both as layers and breeders ;
and, though that is not the only cause of his troubles in growing
chickens, it is one reason why he is less successful in that branch
of his work than in getting eggs, and finds it harder to produce
layers than to get eggs after he has got the layers.

To keep hens in good productive condition throughout their
natural lives of usefulness, which in the laying hen should be two
seasons and in the breeding hen three or four, regular easy exer-
cise is essential. To give it to hens in confinement, the keeper
must provide litter of suitable material, leaves, straw and coarse
bay being most commonly used ; and, removing the worn-out and

33

adding new litter as required, must give no little time to that item
of work the year round. In most parts of this State all fowls are
confined to the houses much of the time during winter, and are
better off if made to take some exercise. But fowls which have
good range get all the exercise they need, foraging over it through
eight or nine months every year, and during those months the
keeper does not need to make special provision for exercise for
them.

Besides the things just mentioned which must be done directly
for the fowls, whoever keeps poultry in close confinement needs to
keep houses clean and to turn over the earth in the yards at fre-
quent intervals, and in small yards this work has to be done
mostly with spade or fork. In all these ways the average time
per fowl devoted to the care of a flock of poultry is increased ; so
that, while we find many poultrymen using intensive methods fully
occupying their time with the care of 400 to 500 hens, we find
farmers keeping hens on large farms on the colony plan doing the
routine work of caring for 1,200 or more hens as a part of the
morning and evening chores, and making more money actually,
and very much more for time consumed than intensive poultrymen
do, though the latter can show averages per fowl that make the
common averages by colony methods look small.

Another point of difference between the two systems which
should be emphasized in this connection is that, to be successful,
intensive methods require much greater skill and more experience
than are needed to make poultry keeping profitable under less arti-
ficial conditions. So it happens that, while the poultryman using
intensive methods finds that, even with land, capital and the wish
to extend operations indefinitely, he is limited by the difficulty,
often amounting to impossibility, of getting help it will pay him
to use ; while the colony farmer's operations are, generally speak-
ing, limited only by the number of fowls his land will carry by his
•system. He uses ordinary farm help, — men who do the poultry
work as " chores," and work in the fields through the day. Some
of these men are, of course, better " hands " with the poultry than
others ; but the advantages of natural conditions offset all ordi-
nary consequences of inefficiency to such an extent that the close
supervision required on intensive poultry plants where help is
employed is not necessary, and the average farm hand makes an
average good poultryman.

I have given this extended illustration of differences between
the system appropriate for the poultryman under necessity of
keeping fowls in close confinement and that used by farmers who,
with only such modifications or elaborations as the scale of opera-

34

tions requires, apply ordinary farm methods to a large stock of
fowls, because it is desirable that, before explaining the inter-
mediate methods which suit intermediate conditions, we should
have clearly before us the leading contrasts of the systems between
which we wish to strike the happy medium.

What we are seeking — what I suppose four out of every five
small farmers who become especially interested in poultry want,
even when they don't fully appreciate what it is they want — is a
method by which the farmer can keep as much poultry as possible
without giving the poultry the detailed attention which must be
given when the land occupied is stocked to the limit of its capacity.

The problem is neither a deep nor a dif33cult one. That it has
been so seldom solved, and that statements of the solutions have
attracted so little attention, seems to me to be due to the preoccu-
pation of poultry keepers with other methods. However that may
be, it is a fact more self-evident in southern New England than in
anjT other section of the country that small farmers undertaking to
specialize in poultry have almost invariably adopted intensive
methods, and almost invariably to their own detriment, handicap-
ping their efforts to make poultry pay, and frequently also handi-
capping themselves heavily in their general work.

I have seen farms by the score on which were poultry buildings
and yards unused, except as a few fowls went through or stayed
in at will, and rapidly going to decay ; and I have seen other
farms by the score where it was plain that the effort to make
poultry pay was being persisted in almost hopelessly, and at the
expense of some or all other opportunities of the farm ; and this
in the section of the United States which, in my judgment, is
favored above all others in the all-important matters of climate
and soil for poultry culture, and good 'markets for poultry prod-
ucts. When there is so much of this to be seen, what wonder is it
that people are continually asking, " Is there money in poultry?"
and, when told that there most certainly is, ask, " Then why are'
there so many poultry plants standing idle, and so many for sale?"

I don't want readers to infer that I attribute to the use of inap-
propriate methods all the failures to make poultry pay on these
New England farms. A good many of these unused poultry plants
are monuments to inexperience, lack of capital or utter lack of
adaptability to the work. Many of them are the sepulchres of
foolish expectations of city-bred men, full of ideas and theories,
but with no knowledge of or training in any of the pursuits of
country life. It is not such failures as these that we are now dis-
cussing ; it is the failure — or, where failure has not yet come, but
seems impending, — the situation of the farmer who might reason.-

35

ably be expected to make his poultry profitable, that just now
concerns us.

The common trouble in these cases has been that, whether few
fowls or many were kept, when the owners could not let them run
at large because they would trespass on the premises of neighbors,
they have gone to the other extreme, and, adopting the methods of
small city poultry keepers and of exclusive poultry keepers, have
put themselves in a position where they could not properly look
after both the fowls and the other farm work. Generally all the
work on the farm has suffered, in consequence.

It must be admitted that intensive methods present some features
which in practice as well aS theoretically are alluring to most of us.
The plant is compact, and is generally so arranged that most of the
work of caring for the fowls can be done under cover. It saves
the attendant from exposure, and it saves steps. It seems to place
us in the zenith of comfort, and offer us the acme of economy in
labor. Let us look into it a little more closely, from the small
farmers' point of view, keeping in mind the extra burdens which
intensive methods impose on the one who has care of the poultry.

When one begins to plan to keep fowls by intensive methods,
he first decides how many fowls he will keep, in how many flocks,
and how many in each flock. Then he plans his house to fit the
flocks, and makes his yards of width to correspond with the di-
visions of the houses, generally making them no larger than is
necessary to get the minimum allowance of yard room per fowl
considered safe. The result is, that in nearly every case the
yards, while sufficient if breeding pens of a few fowls each are
kept in them, are entirely inadequate when the compartments of
the house are stocked, as they usally are, to their full capacity.

The truth is that the parts of the system do not fit. The amount
of yard room needed to keep fowls so that the poultryman can
save on his labor cannot be had in connection with the pens in the
long houses which are the principal feature of the intensive system.
As the farmer who cannot let his poultry have free range must
have yards, the obvious thing for him to do is to lay out and pro-
portion his yards according to the size of his flocks, limit the total
of fowls kept to the capacity of the land available for yards, make
the houses of such dimensions as are required, and place them
singly or in pairs, where they can be most conveniently reached
by the attendant when making the rounds of the place.

This has been done here and there ; but many who ought to use
such a method have never given any attention to it, and quite a
number who have been interested in it as they saw the system in
satisfactory use have hesitated to adopt it for themselves, because

36

they are reluctant to give up the compact, continuous house plan,
and because they think they cannot afford the expense of fencing
large yards.

When large yards are used, the houses need not be very far
apart. If, instead of a yard 18 feet wide by 75 to 150 feet long,
which is about the way the yards range for a style of house which
is quite common, and is usually rated as having a capacity of 25
to 30 fowls in each of its 10 by 18 feet sections, we make a yard
two or three times as wide, the house arrangement would be either a
separate house for each yard, or two-section houses placed so that
the division fences between the yards with which the respective
compartments connected would be on a line with the partition
through the middle of the house.

Suppose we have yards 36 feet wide and 150 feet long; this
will generally give ample yard room for 25 or 30 hens. If the
lay of the land is such that the yard cannot be 150 feet long, the
width must be increased to give the required area. With yards
36 feet wide and double houses, the distance between two houses
is only 36 feet. If we have in a row four of these double houses,
with eight yards, the distance from end to end of the row of
houses is 252 feet, — 108 feet more than if the sections were all
in one continuous house. If one builds houses that far apart,
and makes the rounds of the plant as many times a day as some
poultry keepers do, that 108 feet, doubled, because he must go to
the end and return, can be made the basis of a calculation show-
ing many miles traveled and much time lost because of the ground
to be covered. But with the large yards it is not necessary to
make these numerous daily circuits. Some poultry keepers who
give ample yard room feed the grain to their fowls in hoppers
in the houses, and, by using a hopper which needs replenishing
only once or twice a week, find it necessary to visit the house at
most only twice daily, and often make only one visit.

The method I am using on a three-acre place in a small town
could be applied on a small farm, and make it necessary to go
around onlj' twice a day ; tliough, because we have not far to go,
we don't often try to combine the doing of several things when
making one circuit. I will describe our way of feeding a little
farther on. Here I want to get back to the point of the expense
of large yards. Four double houses, each accommodating 50 to
60 fowls, provide quarters for 200 to 240 fowls. To give these
fowls the amount of yard room designated as sufficient will require
no more cost for division and side fences than if the houses were
all joined in one. The doubled yard area is secured by simply
doubling the length of each end fence. Even supposing that the

37

same height of fence was required, this extra cost of fencing
would not be considerable, and would be insignificant when com-
pared with the saving in labor effected by giving ample yard room ;
but it will be found that as yards are enlarged the height of the
fence can be reduced, and thus it may be actually cheaper to make
the larger yards. I have this year kept Dorkings with a fence
only 3 feet high, and never had one of them attempt to go out,
though they can easily fly a fence 5 or 6 feet high. Their yard
is just as good as what lies beyond, and they are always fed there,
so there is no temptation to go out.

When properly reckoned, the actual cost of large yards is not a
heavy tax on the poultry keeper, and, comparatively, the smaller
yard always costs more per enclosed surface. It costs a little more
to build four two-section houses than to build one eight-section
house, but the difference is not great. In yards of about the di-
mensions given as desirable, some a little larger, some a little
smaller, I keep from 20 to 30 Light Brahmas, the number varying
according to conditions and to the stock on hand. I aim not to
have more hens in a yard than will leave it in this condition : For
15 to 25 feet from the house the ground will be quite bare ; beyond
this to about midway of the length of the yard the grass will be
generally good, but short; the other half of the yard will have
quite long grass, long enough to conceal grain thrown in it, and
require the hens to hunt and scratch for their grain just as they do
for the various wild seeds they find when foraging far and wide on
open range. I am away from home nearly always through the
day, and frequently not home until after feeding time in the even-
ing. Occasionally I am away for two or three days or a week at
a time. So I had to make such conditions for my fowls that they
could be cared for with the least possible work, and would not
suffer from inexperienced or irregular feeding. The hens get a
mash in the morning, and often the noon feed of grain is scattered
in the grass immediately after the mash is fed. That would be
done regularly, were it not that the grain lying about attracts too
many pigeons and sparrows. But whenever it would be incon-
venient for the folks at the house to feed at noon, grain is given
in the grass right after the morning mash, and, the hens having
been given a supply of water for the day, there is no need of any
one going near them again until evening. They can get along and
keep in good condition without other green food and animal food
than they get in the yards ; but I like to give both hens and chicks
all the meat they can stand, so feed beef scrap in mash regu-
larly. The fowls at some time or other get all the waste green
stuff from the garden ; but in giving it I can consult my own con-

38

venienee, knowing that they can get good green grass whenever
they choose to pick it, and will not suffer if I find other things of
more importance to do, and neglect giving them special feeds of
vegetable for a long time. Quite a number of farmers I know
handle fowls by methods very similar to those I use, the essential
thing being to avoid conditions, a ration, or a routine that keeps
the attendant constantly at the beck and call of some feature of
the system.

In growing young chickens I cannot now make as satisfactory
an application of the ideas described, because I have to guard
against city cats, and keep chicks in coops while small ; but a few
years ago, when located where cats were no trouble, we gave the
chicks the run of a small orchard, fed them a mash in the morning,
kept cracked corn standing before them all the time, and gave
other feed or not through the day, as happened to be convenient.

Given the right conditions, one can do this with both old and
young fowls. The suitable conditions are found on almost all
small farms, when either the fowls kept are given ample yard
room, or the land which can be utilized for fowls is not stocked so
heavily that its natural facilities fail,

I think we have disposed of the problem of feeding and water-
ing, indicating how it can be done and the farmer left free to give
the whole day between chore times to other farm and field work.
Another problem that causes some trouble is keeping houses and
yards clean. When the fowls are given large yards, the work of
caring for them is very much reduced. The large yard on soil of
the sandy character common throughout New England does not
become foul. The droppings are well distributed over it, and the
rains disintegrate them and leach them down into the soil, where
they nourish the roots of the grass and trees. With the large
yards, too, it is easier to take care of the houses, for the hens are
in them less, droppings do not accumulate so rapidly, and it is not
so necessary that there should be regular and frequent cleanings.

I use no droppings boards, and, b}^ keeping the floors of the
houses well littered with dry leaves, which absorb all the moisture
in the droppings, find that I can let the droppings remain for
weeks and yet leave the house free from bad smells, and, as the
droppings are hidden in the leaves, cleaner to look at than half
the houses I see that are cleaned daily. In winter I have let my
houses go without removing the droppings for several months. I
don't advise others either to do without droppings boards or to
let their houses go so long uncleaned, unless they are sure they
can control the situation. If there is much looseness among the
fowls, it will not do at all to let droppings accumulate. With

39

some kinds of litter the droppings cannot be allowed to accumu-
late. Dry leaves I have found better than anything else, if one
has them in sufficient quantity to keep the litter always deep on
the floor of the houses. In England many farmers use peat moss,
and allow droppings to accumulate in it for nearly a year. In
Rhode Island the colony-plan poultry farmers set a board on edge
on the floor just forward of the outer roost, and throw dry earth,
a few shovelfuls at a time, from the other side of the floor on the
accumulating droppings. This accumulation of earth and drop-
pings is removed once or twice a year. Poultry manure normally
is of such character that if one takes proper care of it where it
falls in the house it is not necessary that it should be promptly
removed; and the small farmer, taking advantage of this fact,
can arrange his roosts and their surroundings so that he can clean
when convenient. He is not required to choose between taking
time to clean the houses daily or having houses in condition to be
ashamed of.

Poultry keeping ought to be an important feature on every farm,
and a pleasant feature of farm work. It may be, if the farmer
will only study to adapt his stock and his methods to the capacity
of the farm under conditions satisfactory to him.

Series of 1903.

Bulletin No. 5.

MASSACHUSETTS .n.,^, ;

CEOP EEPOET

Month of September, 1903.

ISSUED BY

J. LEWIS ELLSWORTH,

Secretary State Board of Agriculture.

BOSTON :
WRIGHT & POTTER PRINTING CO., STATE PRINTERS,
18 Post Okkice Square.
1903.

Chop Eepoet foe the Month of Septembee, 1903.

Office of State Board of Agriculture,
Boston, Mass., Oct. 1, 1903.

Bulletin No. 5, Crop Report for the month of September,
is presented herewith. Attention is called to the article at
the close of the bulletin, on " Some Important Scale Insects,"
by Prof. H. T. Fernald, professor of entomology, Massachu-
setts Agricultural College. This article is in a sense supple-
mentar}' to his article on " Tliree Common Orchard Scales,"
published in our crop report for May, 1901, and reprinted
in the report for June, 1902, but is more thorough and ex-
haustive than either, taking up the treatment of the San
Jose scale in orchards and including several scales not men-
tioned in the earlier bulletin. It should be of particular
interest to all orchardists and nurserymen.

Progress of the Seaso"x.

The September returns of the United States Department
of Agriculture (Crop Reporter for September, 1903) show
the condition of corn on September 1 to have been 80.1, as
compared with 78.7 on Aug. 1, 1903, 84.3 on Sept. 1,
1902, 51.7 at the corresponding date in 1901, and a tcn-3^ear
average of 79.3. No attempt ivas made to anticipate the
results from future weather conditions.

The average condition at harvest of winter and spring
wheat combined was 74.7, against 80 on Sept. 1, 1902,
82.8 at the corresponding date in 1901, and a ten-year
average of 78.3.

The average condition of the oat crop on September 1 was
75.7, against 79.5 on Aug. 1, 1903, 87.2 on Sept. 1, 1902,
72.1 at the corresponding date in 1901, and a ten-year
averagfe of 80.6.

The average condition of barley on September 1 was 82.1,
against 83.4 on Aug. 1, 1903, 89.7 on Sept. 1, 1902, 83.8
at the corresponding date in 1901, and a ten-year average
of 82.2.

The average condition of rye on September 1 was 84.1,
against 87.2 a month earlier, 90.2 on Sept. 1, 1902, 84.9 at
the corresponding date in 1901, and a ten-year average of
85.5.

The average condition of buckwheat on September 1 was
91, against 93.9 a month earlier, 86.4 on Sept. 1, 1902,
90.9 at the corresponding date in 1901, and a ten-year aver-
ao'e of 84.4.

The average condition of flax on September 1 was 80.5,
against 80.3 a month earlier, and S6.2 on July 1, 1903.

The average condition of potatoes on September 1 was

84.3, against 87.2 a month earlier, 89.1 on Sept. 1, 1902,
52.2 at the corresponding date in 1901, and a ten-year aver-
age of 76.

The average condition of tobacco on September 1 was

83.4, against 82.9 a month earlier, and 85.1 on July 1,
1903.

All but five of the principal cloverseed-producing States
report decreased acreage, but conditions in these principal
States are generally above the ten-year averages.

The average condition of rice on September 1 was 93.6,
as compared with 92 a month earlier, and 93.5 on July 1,
1903.

The number of stock hogs being fattened was 5.1, less
than the number being fattened a j^ear ago. Eeports show
a condition of 95.1, as compared with a seven-year condi-
tion of 94.2.

The average condition of cotton on August 25 was 81.2,
as compared with 79.7 on Julv 25, 1903, 64 on Aug. 26,
1902, 71.4 on Aug. 24, 1901, and a ten-year average of
72.4.

In Massachusetts the average condition of corn September
1 was oiven as 58 ; the average condition of oats as 94 ; the
average condition of rj'c when harvested as 90 ; the average
condition of ])uckwhcat as 87 ; the average condition of
potatoes as 86 ; the average condition of apples as 53 ; the

average condition of peaches as 19 : the average condition
of grapes as 62 ; the average condition of tobacco as 78 ; the
number of stocli hogs fattening as compared Avith hist year
as 99 and their average condition as 96.

TE3IPERATURE AXD RaINFALL FOR THE WhOLE CoUNTRY.

[From United States Climate and Crop Bulletins.]

Week ending August 31. — Tlie week averaged cooler
than usual in the Pacific coast States, middle and northern
Plateau districts and over the northern portions of the
country eastward of the Rocky Mountains. In the Ohio,
central Mississippi and lower Missouri valleys, over the
northern portions of the middle Atlantic States and through-
out the southern States the week averaged warmer than
usual. Generally throughout the northern portions of the
country from the Atlantic to the Pacific the rainfall ex-
ceeded the weekly average, being very heavy in the middle
Atlantic States, Lake region and upper ]Mississippi and Mis-
souri valleys. There was also more than the usual rainfall
in northern Florida and over limited areas in the central and
west Gulf States, although as a whole the precipitation in
the southern States was much below the average, especially
over the interior districts.

Week ending September 7. — The week was cooler than
usual in the middle Atlantic States, Ohio and Mississippi
valleys, the Lake region and in the central and west Gulf
States. Throughout the eastern and southern Rocky Moun-
tain slopes, the Plateau region and the Pacific coast States
the week was warmer than usual. There were also slight
excesses over northern New England and in Georgia and
Florida. There Avas less than the usual amount of rain
throughout the countr}-, the exceptions being in Wisconsin
and Minnesota, and in small areas in Iowa, New England,
along the south Atlantic coast and in Washington and Ore-
gon. A large region extending from Texas northward to
Kansas and eastward to Pennsylvania, including the lower
Lake region and the greater })art of the southern States, re-
ceived practically no rain.

Week ending Septendjer 14. — The week was decidedly
cool from the north Pacific coast eastward to the Dakotas

6

and northern Minnesota, and in the central Rocky Mountain
and Plateau districts. Along the coast of central and south-
ern California, over the southeastern Rocky Mountain slope
and in the districts eastward of the Mississippi River the
week averaged warmer than usual, the excess in the central
Mississippi and Ohio valleys, Lake region and middle At-
lantic States ranging from 3° to 9° a day. There was more
than the averas-e rainfall from the north Pacific coast east-
ward to the upper Lake region, including the lower Missouri
and central Mississippi valleys. The Atlantic coast districts,
the greater part of the central and west Gulf States and por-
tions of the lower Ohio valley and lower Lake region re-
ceived less than the average rainfall.

WeeJc ending September 21. — The week was warmer
than usual in New England, over the northern portion ot
the middle Atlantic States, the eastern portion of the lower
Lake region, on the north Pacific coast and in central Cali-
fornia. Over the greater part of the country the week was
cooler than usual, being decidedly cool in the central Pla-
teau and Rocky Mountain districts, Missouri and upper
Mississippi valleys, and over the northern portion of the
southern States. Over a large part of the south Atlantic
and east Gulf States the rainfall was unusually heavy. Por-
tions of the middle Atlantic coast districts, central Texas and
local areas of limited extent in the Missouri valley also re-
ceived more than the usual amount. The Ohio valley, the
greater portions of the upper Mississippi valley, upper Lake
reorion, middle Atlantic, central and west Gulf States received
less than the weekly average.

Week ending September 28. — In the central Missouri
valley and over the middle and northern Rocky Mountain
and Pacific coast districts the week averaged considerably
warmer than usual, and it was slightly warmer than usual
over the eastern portion of the lower Lake region, the
northern portion of the middle Atlantic States, Xew Eng-
land, and the interior of the south Atlantic States. In the
central valleys, upper Lake region, central Gulf States and
over portions of the middle and south Atlantic States the
week averaged slightly cooler than usual. The weekly
precipitation exceeded the average over limited area in the

central Mississippi valley, upper Lake region, and at a few
stations on the southern New England and middle Atlantic
coasts. Elsewhere, east of the Rockj'^ Mountains the rainfall
was below the average

Special Telegraphic Reports.

[Weather Bureau, Boston.]

Week ending Au(/ust 31. — New England. Boston:
Cool, damp weather, unfavorable for work and growth ;
some small grain and grass yet to cut, good yield ; both
rowen and pastures in good condition ; scattered blight and
rot damaged potatoes, but main crop of good quality, aver-
age yield ; little improvement in corn, small amount will
mature ; gardens backward, small yield ; vine and root crops
doing well ; abundance of apples in some localities, few or
none in others ; tobacco leaf remarkably free from blemishes,
probably average crop of good quality.

Week ending September 7. • — New England. Boston :
Week generally favorable for growth and work, except hail
on the fifth damaged uncut tobacco and fruit ; sweet and
field corn below average ; tomatoes ripening slowly ; cab-
bages, turnips, beets and celery good ; much rot in potatoes
in scattering localities ; first haying about completed ; good
second crop ; apples coloring fast, good crop in many hill
orchards ; good quality of cranberries, quantity below aver-
age.

Weeh ending September 14. — New England. Boston:
With exception of frosts that damaged vine crops and corn,
especially in northern States, the week was very favorable ;
corn poor ; small gi'ains good ; vine crops poor ; potato
blight and rot serious, except in Maine, where less ; apples
falling much in places ; haying practically completed, yield
average, quality below ; tobacco mostly hung, leaves small
and light weight, but excellent texture ; some damage to
cranberries by frost.

Weeh ending September 21. — New England. Boston:
Warm weather first of week favorable ; some damage to corn
and apples by high winds ; all crojis injured by frost ; much
corn will not mature ; potatoes where not sprayed rotting

8

badly, both in field and cellar ; root crops promising ; vine
crops Imckward, many killed by frost ; tobacco practically
all cut, average yield, qiialit}^ generally good.

Week ending SejJtember 28. — New England. Boston:
Week very favorable for growth and harvesting crops ; corn
poor ; much ensilage cut, poor ; potatoes continue to rot
badl}^ in most sections ; much winter fruit blown ofi*, cro"p
will be small ; vegetables injured by frosts ; turnips and
cabbages in good condition ; tomatoes poor ; tobacco curing
well.

The Weather of September, 1903.
The weather the closing days of August continued cloudy,
cool and unseasonable, but with the opening of September
the type changed to warm, pleasant and sunny weather,
with clear skies, and temperature normal and above during
the first five days of the month, reaching maxima of 80° and
above on the 4th and 5th. This period of fair and compara-
tively warm weather was broken on the 5th by showers
and storms, accompanied by heavy thunder, sharp light-
ning, and in some instances by hail, which in places caused
considerable damage. From the ()th to the 9th, inclusive,
cooler temperatures prevailed, the highest of the day gen-
erally ranging between 60° and 70°, and at night falling
below 45° in many places, and sufficiently low to cause
frosts, which were not widespread or severe. After the
9th the temperature again rose, and was much aljove the
normal for the season until the 19th ; the highest tempera-
tiu-es of this warm period occurred on the 13th, 14th and
15th, when the maxima ranged near 90°. After the 5th
fair and generally clear weather accompanied the higher
temperature until the 16th and 17th, when general and quite
heavy showers occmred, with high winds. After the 17th
another period of fair weather set in which continued until
the 27th, although with more cloudiness than the ten days
of fair weather that preceded the 17th. On the afternoon
and evening of the 27th o^eneral showers occurred, with
copious rainfall and heavy thunder and lightning, doing
more or less damage in a number of places. These unsettled
conditions passed off" before the morning of the 28th, fair

9

and generally clear weather prevailing during the remainder
of the month, after that date. From the 19th to the close
of the month the temperature was generally seasonal, rang-
ing from one to six degrees below and above normal in
alternating periods of two or three days. The cool periods
were about the 19th, the 24th and 25th, and the 28th, when
the temperature fell so as to cause frosts in many localities.
In general the weather conditions of the month were seasonal
and very favorable, and much more so than those preceding
in August.

In the circular to correspondents returnable to us Septem-
ber 25 the following questions were asked : —

1. How does Indian corn compare with a normal crop?

2. Are the rowen crop and fall feed up to the usual aver-
age?

3. Has the usual amount of fall seeding been done, and
what is its present condition ?

4. How does the onion crop compare with a normal crop?

5. How do potatoes compare with the normal in yield and
quality ?

6. "What is the prospect for root crops, celery and other
late market-garden crops?

7. How have apples, pears, peaches, grapes and cranber-
ries tiu'ned out?

Returns were received from 153 correspondents, from
which the following summary has been made : —

Indian Corn.
The warm Aveather of the month brought Indian corn for-
ward rapidly, but it is nevertheless one of the poorest crops
ever secured, poorer even than that of 1902. There has
been damage from frost in some localities, and even where
the cro}) has escaped thus far it is not eared out well and
many im])erfect ears are reported. The stover is also poorly
developed and many dairy farmers will not have enough to
fill their silos. Where it has escaped damage from frost it
should be of good nutritive value, both for stover and en-
silage. Much of the crop remained to be cut at the time of
making returns.

10

ROAVEN AND FaLL FeED.

Where the first crop of hay was cut early the rowen crop
is phenomenally heavy, but many fields were cut so late
that it is doubtful if more than an average crop is secured
as a whole. The weather of the month has been very favor-
able for securing the crop, and it is of excellent quality.
Fall feed is in excellent condition all over the State, with
the exception of Cape Cod and a few localities in Bristol
and Plymouth counties. With seasonable rains during the
coming month pastures and mowings should make a good
start next spring.

Fall Seeding.
All farm work was delayed by the lateness of haying, and
at the time of making returns much less fall seeding than
usual had been done. The work was progressing well with
the fair weather, and probably as much as usual will finally
be put in. That sown early made a good catch and was
growing luxuriantly, but there were many reports that the
later sown seed was lying dormant in the ground, awaiting
rain to promote germination.

Onions.
Onions are a very poor crop in most localities. Giving
the reports from the regions of principal production the
weight they deserve it is probable that not over half a crop
wall be secured. There is much complaint of blight, which
shortened the crop in many localities, and also that those
remaining green were dying down very slowly, with small
bottoms and an undue proportion of thick necks. The
quality of the crop therefore is not likely to be up to the
standard .

Potatoes.
Potatoes promise to be an unusually good crop and the
yield would undoubtedly have been large but for the pres-
ence of rot, which was general throughout the State, though
perhaps more destructive in the western counties than else-
where. Not more than three-fourths of a crop will be secured

11

on the whole, and many fields have been total failures. The
quality of tlie tubers is generall}^ excellent where unaffected
by rot.

Root Crops, Celery, etc.

Root crops are generally reported as promising well,
though somewhat late in most sections. Celery is also a
good crop so far as reported. Other late market-garden
crops generally give good promise, but are not especially
forward and are in need of further warm weather for best
development.

Fruits.

Apples were blown from the trees to a considerable ex-
tent by the high winds of the Kith and 17th, but still give
a better crop than is usually secured in an off year, although
the fruit is not especially large or free from blemishes.
Pears are a fair crop, though perhaps not as good as pre-
viously indicated. Very few peaches were secm'ed. Grapes
did not develop according to the promise of the earlier sea-
son and the crop proved to be nearly a failure. Cranberries'
are a light crop in the sections of commercial production,
probably even lighter than that of last year.

12

:^OTES OF CORRESPONDENTS.

(Returned to us September 23.)

BERKSHIRE COUNTY.

Alford (L. T. Osborne). — Indian corn is not yet ripe and is
said to be the poorest crop ever known. Rowen and fall feed are
above the average in condition. Fall seeding has been late and
farmers are badly behind ; weather now very favorable. Potatoes
are rotting badly and some fields are total failures. Fruit of all
kinds is much below the normal in this section.

Tyringham (E. H. Slater). — Corn will yield about a two-
thirds crop. A good supply of rowen has been harvested and fall
feed is better than usual. The yield of potatoes compares favor-
ably with former years and the quality is good. There is a good
supply of apples but not as many as last year.

Becket (Wm. H. Skow). — There is not half a crop of corn and
very little of it will do for seed. Rowen and fall feed are fully up
to the usual average. Less than the usual amount of fall seeding
has been done, but that put in looks well. Potatoes have made a
full average yield of good quality. The prospect for root crops,
celery, and other late market-garden crops is very good. There
will be a fair crop of apples and pears.

StocJcbridge (F. A. Palmer) . — Indian corn is far below the
normal, say 20 per cent. Rowen and fall feed are above average
in condition. About the usual amount of fall seeding has been
done, but it is too early to judge as to condition as most are late
in sowing. Potatoes are 80 per cent of a normal crop, quality
fine, but with some rot. The prospect for root crops, celery and
other late market-garden crops is extra good with us. Apples
30 per cent of a full crop ; pears 40 per cent ; no peaches ; grapes
30 per cent ; no cranberries.

Per7i (F. G. Creamer). — Indian corn is a very poor crop.
Rowen and fall feed are up to the usual average. The usual
amount of fall seeding has been done and it is in very good condi-
tion. Potatoes are above the average in yield and quality. Apples
are a very good crop.

13

Hinsdale (Thos. F. Barker). — Corn is decidedly the poorest
crop for years. Roweu is not up to the usual average, but fall
feed is in good condition. Bat very little fall seeding has been
done, but what has been put in looks well. Potatoes are a good
crop both in yield and quality. Root crops light ; celery very
good, but only raised for home use. There will be a fair crop of
apples ; light crop of pears. Some fields of ensilage corn look
finely.

Cheshire (L. J. Northup). — Indian corn is probably not more
than half a normal crop. Rowen and fall feed are above the usual
average. The usual amount of fall seeding has been done and it
is looking finely where it is up. The onion crop is not quite up to
former years. Potatoes would have given a large crop but rotted
badly. The prospect for root crops is quite flattering. Apples
are more plenty, than they were thought to be ; grapes and pears
quite good crops.

Laneshorough (Scott Jenks). — Indian corn is a three-fourths
crop. Rowen and fall feed are above the average in condition.
The usual amount of fall seeding has been done and it is looking
well. Potatoes are from 10 to 20 per cent above a normal yield.
The prospect is good for root crops, celery and other late market-
garden crops. Apples about one-third of a normal crop; pears
good ; peaches a light crop ; grapes below average. Fall feed has
been good and cows are holding out well in milk.

Nev] Ashford (Elihu Ingraham). — Corn is about half a nor-
mal crop. Rowen and fall feed are up to the usual average. No
fall seeding has been done in this section. There is a very fair
crop of onions. Potatoes compare very well with the normal in
yield and are of good quality. No root crops or celery are raised
here. Apples are a fair crop ; no peaches, grapes or cranberries
raised.

Florida (E. D. Rice). — Not one-tenth of the corn crop will
mature in this locality. Rowen and fall feed are up to the usual
average. Not much fall seeding has been done as yet. Onions
are not raised to any extent. Potatoes were a good crop but rotted
badly. Turnips promise to be a good crop ; other root crops not
much raised. Apples are dropping badly and there are not many
grapes.

FRANKLIN COUNTY.

Monroe (D. H. Sherman). — No Indian corn has matured.
Haying was so late that there will be but little rowen ; fall feed in
fair condition. But very little fall seeding has been done in this
section. Potatoes made a fair yield, but are rotting very badly;

14

quality otherwise good. Root crops, celery and other late market-
garden crops will be almost a failure. There are a few apples and
some pears ; other fruits a failure.

Leyden (U. T. Darling). — Indian corn is a very poor crop,
the poorest for years. Rowen and fall feed are very much better
than usual. The usual amount of fall seeding has been done and
is looking well. Potatoes made a good yield of good quality, but
are rotting very badly. The prospect for root crops, celery and
other late market-garden crops is very good. Fruit of all kinds is
very light.

Gill (F. F. Stoughton). — Indian corn is less than an average
crop. Rowen and fall feed are up to the usual average. Onions
are not raised. Potatoes made a good yield but are rotting some-
what. There will be but a light yield of all kinds of fruit.

Shelburne (Geo. E. Tatlor). — There will not be over half or
at most two-thirds of a normal crop of corn. Rowen and fall feed
are in good condition. The usual amount of fall seeding has been
done and it is in good condition. Potatoes yield well and are of
superior quality. No pears nor peaches ; a few grapes ; apples
short and poor in color and will not sell very high.

Ashfield (Chas. Howes). — Although there has been no frost as
yet but little corn will mature. Rowen and fall feed are above
average crops. The usual amount of fall seeding has been done
and is looking finely. Potatoes are a good crop and are of good
quality, but are rotting badly. The prospect for root crops, celery
and other late market-garden crops is very good. Apples are of
very good quality, but are a light crop. The hay and grass crops
are about the only ones in this vicinity that are up to the average.

Whately (Frank Dickinson). — Indian corn is less than an
average crop. Rowen and fall feed are up to the usual average.
The usual amount of fall seeding has been done and is looking
finely. Onions are less than a normal crop. Potatoes are a good
crop in yield and quality, but show some rot. Apples are about
half a crop.

Sunderland (J. M. J. Legate). — Very little corn has been
cut and there is little of the crop that will ripen. Rowen is a
very heavy crop, much above the average and fall feed is in good
condition. Seeding is mostly done in corn and is looking finely.
Onions are a very poor crop as almost all fields have blighted and
they are not curing down well. Potatoes are above the average
in yield and quality where they have not rotted, but there is some
complaint of rot. Root crops, celery and late market-garden
crops promise to be fully up to the average. Apples are a light
crop ; no peaches and but few pears and grapes. Tobacco is all

15

in with no damage from bail or insects ; there are a few fine crops,
but much of it is small and yellow ; no pole sweat as yet.

We7idell (N. D. Plumb). — Indian corn is about half a normal
crop and but little has been cut as yet. Rowen will be about a
normal crop ; pastures are in fine condition. But little fall seed-
ing has been done as yet. Potatoes made a fair yield, but are
rotting badly in field and cellar. The prospect for root crops,
celery and other late market-garden crops is very poor. Apples
are about half a crop ; pears abundant ; peaches and other fruits a
failure.

Northjielcl (Thos. R. Callender). — Less than half the corn
crop will make sound corn. Rowen and fall feed are rather above
average crops. Less than the usual amount of fall seeding has
been done at the present time, but is looking fairly well. Few
onions are grown but they are fully up to the normal. Potatoes
made a fair yield but are rotting badly. Root crops, celery and
other late market-garden crops are looking well. Apples are a
light crop. Cucumbers for pickling were a partial failure. To-
bacco is below the average.

Orange (A. C. White). — The late warm weather has greatly
helped ensilage corn, but that grown for grain is about a failure.
Rowen is a fine crop and was secured in fine shape. Potatoes gave
a normal yield, with but little rot. When apples are harvested
there will be about enough for the home market ; other fruits
scarce.

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.

Greenwich (Wm. S. Douglas). — Indian corn is not up to a
normal crop. Rowen and fall feed are in good condition. The
usual amount of fall seeding has been done and it is in good con-
dition. Potatoes made a good yield, but there is much complaint
of their rotting. Apples, pears, peaches and grapes will give very
light crops.

Pelham (J. L. Brewer). — Corn is a very uneven crop, but has
improved greatly during the past month. Rowen and fall feed
are up to the usual average. There has been but little fall seeding
done and it is not advanced enough to report on. There is a fair
crop of potatoes of good quality, with some complaint of rot.
Root crops promise well ; celery is late. There are a few apples
of second quality and some pears, but peaches and grapes are very
scarce.

Amherst (Wm. P. Brooks). — Ensilage corn is about two-thirds
of the normal ; field corn one-half ; numerous complete failures.
Rowen is much above the average and fall feed is good. The

16

usual amount of fall seeding has been done and it is in nearly per-
fect condition. Onions are much below the normal, the crop being
thin and late and there being many thick necks. Yield of pota-
toes above average ; some rot where not sprayed ; quality good.
The prospect is unusually good for roots and celery ; average for
all late garden crops. Apples not picked, uneven but many good
orchards ; pears average for section ; practically no peaches ;
grapes a light crop of good quality. Cutting ensilage corn has not
yet been begun but must be soon ; crop still too green for best
results.

Hadley (H. C. Russell) . — Corn is less than half a crop. Rowen
was never so good and fall feed is abundant. The usual amount
of fall seeding has been done and it is in good condition. The
onion crop is the poorest for many years and many acres will be
all "picklers." Potatoes yield well, but are rotting. The pros-
pect is good for root crops, celery and other late market-garden
ci'ops. Not many apples and the late high winds still further re-
duced the crop.

Northampton (H. C. Comins). — Indian corn is about a two-
thirds crop. Rowen is 25 per cent above the average crop. Most
of the seeding is done in corn and is looking finely ; other fall
seeding is doing well. Onions are not much more than half a
crop, as there is much blight and a large percentage of the crop
will never dry down so as to be marketable. The quality of the
potato crop is generally good, with rather light yield and some rot.
The outlook for root crops and garden crops is poor ; celery very
good. There will be a very light crop of apples, pears and grapes.

Easthampton ( Wm. E. Clapp) . — Indian corn is below an aver-
age crop. Rowen and fall feed are above the usual average.
About the usual amount of fall seeding has been done and it is in
good condition. Onions are less than an average crop. Potatoes
made a normal yield of excellent quality. The prospect for root
crops, celery and other late market-garden crops is below the
average. Apples, pears and peaches are nearly a failure. Grapes
are an average crop.

Southampton (C. B. Lyman). — Many fields of corn need two
weeks of warm weather to ripen and the crop would then be light.
Rowen and fall feed are fully up to the usual average. Less than
the usual amount of fall seeding has been done as yet. Onions
are about an average crop. The yield of potatoes is very good
and the quality extra fine. The prospect for root crops, celery
and other late market-garden crops is fair. Apples about one-
third of a crop ; pears very few ; no peaches ; grapes fair.

Huntington (H. W. Stickney). — Indian corn is about half a

17

crop. The usual amount of fall seeding has been done and it
looks finely. Rowen is above a normal crop and fall feed is in
fine condition. Not many onions are raised in this vicinity.
Potatoes made a fair yield and on light soil not many have rotted.
Root crops, celery and other late market-garden crops promise to
be fully as good as usual. Apples are about half a crop ; pears
fine ; no grapes.

Chesterfield (Horatio Bisbee). — Indian corn is about an entire
failure. Rowen and fall feed are good with but little frost as yet
to damage them. The usual amount of fall seeding has been done
and it is in good condition. The potato crop as a whole is not
very good, some fields good while others are poor. Apples are
fairly good for the off year ; no other fruit of any account.

HAMPDEN COUNTY.

Chester (C. Z. Inzell). — Indian corn is a poor crop and not
half of it will mature. Rowen and fall feed are up to the usual
average. The usual amount of fall seeding has been done and it
is looking well. Potatoes are a light crop and are rotting some-
what. Apples are a light crop.

Blaridford (E. W. Boise). — The corn crop is almost a total
failure as to grain and not over half a crop as to stover. Hay and
rowen were extra good crops and barns are well filled. Less than
the usual amount of fall seeding has been done, but it is in good
condition. Onions are a full normal crop. Potatoes are rotting
badly, very few fields showing no decay, but are otherwise of good
quality. Root crops promise fairly well but not up to the average.
Apples promise to prove a good yield, mainly Baldwins ; some
pears ; no peaches or grapes ; cranberries a good crop. Stock will
come to barns in perhaps better than average condition.

Russell (E. D. Parks) . — Farmers are just commencing to cut
the corn crop, and a smaller yield than usual is expected. Rowen
and fall feed are above the average on fields where the hay crop
was taken off early. Less than the usual amount of fall seeding
has been done as yet, but all that is in is looking nicely. Onions
arie a very poor crop. Potatoes are not up to expectations, quite
a little rot being reported. The prospect is very good for root
crops, celery and other late market-garden crops. Fruit promises
very well, but apples are falling from the trees quite a good deal.

Westfield (C. F. Fowler). — Many fields of corn are a failure
except for stover. Rowen on early cut fields is heavy, but on late
cut very light. Less seeding has been done as yet than is usual.
Potatoes are yielding unusually well, but are rotting badly. Man-

18

golds are looking well. There are but few apples and pears, no
peaches and few grapes.

West Springfield (T. A. Rogeks). — Indian corn will give a
possible two-thirds crop, but can tell better when husked. Rowen
and fall feed are fully up to the average. About the usual amount
of fall seeding has been done and it is looking finely. Onions are
not more than a two-thirds crop. The yield of potatoes was all
right, but they have about half rotted. Root crops, celery and
other late market-garden crops are looking finely and promise good
crops. Apples few ; pears and grapes plenty ; very few peaches.

Agaioam (J. G. Burt). — Indian corn will be only a light crop.
Rowen and fall feed are up to the usual average. The usual
amount of fall seeding has been done and it is in good condition.
Onions are about an average crop. The yield of potatoes is good,
but they have rotted badly. The prospect is good for root crops,
celery and other late market-garden crops. There will be a good
crop of pears, but no other fruit.

Ludlow (C. B. Bennett). — There will not be over a two-thirds
crop of Indian corn. Rowen is not up to the usual average, but
fall feed is above. More than the usual amount of fall seeding
has been done and it is looking finely. Potatoes have yielded
well, but half the crop has rotted. The prospect is good for root
crops, celery and other late market-garden crops. There are no
pears or peaches ; very few apples ; grapes good. Ensilage corn
is short and the leaves are narrow ; no one has enough to fill the
silos.

Wilbraham (H. M. Bliss). — The warm days of last week
helped the corn crop and with no frost for two weeks many fields
will improve greatly. Rowen and fall feed are up to the usual
average. The usual amount of fall seeding has been done and is
in good condition. Onions are about half a crop. Potatoes made
a good yield of good quality, but show some rot. The prospect
for root crops, celery and other late market-garden crops is fairly
good. Apples are a little more than half a crop ; few pears; no
peaches ; grapes and cranberries fair.

Monson (F. D. Rogers). — Corn shows a good growth of fodder
but needs a week or two of good weather to mature. Rowen is
good on early cut fields. The usual amount of fall seeding has
been done and is looking well. Potatoes are yielding better than
usual ; quality good, but rotting somewhat. The prospect is good
for root crops, celery and other late market-garden crops. Apples
are a light crop ; practically no pears, peaches or plums ; grapes
rotted badly.

19

Holland (Francis Wight). — Indian corn will be a very light
crop. Rowen and fall feed are hardly up to the average. About
the usual amount of fall seeding has been done and it is in fairly
good condition. Onions are rather small in size and below a nor-
mal crop. Potatoes show a good yield but are rotting badly on
some fields. The prospect for root crops, celery and other late
market-garden crops is fairly good. Apples, peaches and grapes
small crops ; pears and cranberries better.

WORCESTER COUNTY.

Warren (W. E, Patrick). — Indian corn is not over ten per
cent of a normal crop. Rowen and fall feed are about up to the
usual average. Less fall seeding has been done than usual, but it
is in very good condition. Potatoes are above the normal in
yield and better in quality than for many years. There is a fair
crop of apples for an ofif year ; pears average crop ; no peaches ;
few grapes ; no cranberries.

Brookjield (F. E. Prodty). — Indian corn is not over half a
crop. Rowen and fall feed are up to the usual average. The
usual amount of fall seeding has been done and it is in good con-
dition. But few onions are raised in this locality. Potatoes are
a normal crop in yield and of good quality. The prospect for root
crops, celery and other late market-garden crops is good. Apples
are about a one-fourth crop ; pears about half a crop ; very few
peaches ; grapes not more than half a crop ; no cranberries.

New Braintree (C. D. Sage). — Corn is the poorest crop for
years, a few fair crops, but much of it will not mature. The first
crop of hay was cut so late that but little rowen will be cut and
pastures are hardly up to the average. Fall seeding is being done
the last week in September. The yield of potatoes is good, but
there is much complaint of rot. Root crops, celery and other late
market-garden crops are very little grown. Apples half a crop ;
pears a fair crop ; no peaches ; very few grapes.

Oakham (Jesse Allen). — Indian corn is almost a total failure.
Rowen and fall feed are up to the usual average. The usual
amount of fall seeding has been done and it looks well. Potatoes
are a full average crop in yield and quality. Root crops, celery
and other late market-garden crops are little raised. Very few
apples and pears ; no peaches or grapes.

Dana (Lyman Randall) . — The warm September has been
favorable for corn and it will be about half a crop. Rowen and
fall feed are up to the usual average. There has been the usual

20

amount of fall seeding done and it is looking well, although too
early to report on some late seeded fields. Very few onions raised
and those not over half a crop. Potatoes are hardly up to the
normal in yield ; quality good, but rotting somewhat. The pros-
pect for root crops, celery and other late market-garden crops is
fairly good, but hardly up to the average. Apples and pears
about half crops ; no peaches ; grapes ten per cent and cranberries
not more than that.

Hubhardston (C. C. Colby). — Corn is only about 60 per cent
of a normal crop. Rowen is a good crop and pasturage holds
good. Fall seeding is looking well and is a good catch. Potatoes
are rotting badly, but would be an average yield. Apples have
dropped badly ; no grapes and only a few pears.

Templeton (Lucien Gove). — Indian corn is very much below
the average, poorer even than last year. Rowen and fall feed are
better than the usual average, the frequent rains proving very
beneficial. Less than the usual amount of fall seeding has been
done, lateness of haying having put back all other work, but what
has been done is in good condition. Early potatoes were a light
crop ; late ones rotting badly. No celery raised ; other market-
garden crops below average. Apples light, pears the same; no
peaches ; grapes light. The high wind of the 16th and 17th blew
off a large amount of apples.

Winchendon (Arthur Stockwell). — Indian corn is about half
an average crop. There is a full average crop of rowen and fall
feed is in good condition. The usual amount of fall, seeding has
been done and it is in good condition. Potatoes are first class in
yield and quality. The prospect is good for root crops, celery and
other late market-garden crops. Fruit of all kinds is a smaller
yield than last year.

Gardner (A. F. Johnson) . — Corn will give about half a crop
of grain and stover. Both rowen and fall feed are extra good.
The usual amount of fall seeding has been done and it is in good
condition. Potatoes are a fair crop of good quality on high land,
with some rot on low land. The prospect is good for root crops,
celery and other late market-garden crops. There is a fair crop
of apples, but they are of poor quality.

Fitchburg (Jabez Fisher) . — Rowen is more than an average
crop and fall feed is in good condition. Apples and pears 30 per
cent of a full crop ; no peaches ; grapes 25 per cent. This has
been a peculiar season of variable conditions of temperature and
moisture, giving premature ripening of some products and delayed
maturity of others. A cold summer as a whole.

21

Bolton (H. F. Haynes). — Indian corn is about 25 per cent of
a normal crop. Rowen and fall feed are up to the usual average.
The usual amount of fall seeding has been done and it is looking
well. Onions are about half a crop. Potatoes are a three-fourths
crop of good quality. Root crops, celery and other late market-
garden crops are little grown. Apples 5 per cent; cranberries
small yield, possibly half a crop ; grapes good ; no peaches and
few pears.

Worcester (S. A. Burgess). — Corn is about one-fourth of a
normal crop. Rowen is a little above the usual average, as is
also fall feed. The usual amount of fall seeding has been done
and it is in good condition. Onions are a fair crop. Potatoes
are about a two-thirds crop. The prospect is fair for root crops,
celery and other late market-garden crops. Apples half a crop ;
pears a two-thirds crop ; peaches one-fourth ; grapes fair. The
warm weather of the month has improved most crops.

3Iillhury (Herbert McCracken) . — Indian corn is not over one-
third of an average crop. Rowen and fall feed are up to the
usual average. The usual amount of fall seeding has been done
and it is making rapid growth. Onions are from 70 to 80 per
cent of a normal crop. Potatoes are an average yield of excel-
lent quality, but are rotting somewhat. The prospect for root
crops is good. Apples are only one-third of an average crop since
the heavy rain and wind storm ; pears a light crop ; no peaches ;
few grapes ; heavy crop of cranberries.

Oxford (D. M. Howe). — Corn is not an average crop, as it is
very late. Rowen is above the usual average, and fall feed fully
up to it. Fall seeding is looking well. Onions are not much
raised. Potatoes made a good yield, but are rotting badly. Root
crops promise fairly well, and celery looks well. Apples are a
very poor crop ; pears fair ; peaches, grapes and cranberries all
scarce. Farmers are getting high prices for butter, milk, eggs
and pork, and also especially for sweet corn if good.

Mendon (J. J. Nutter). — Indian corn is below an average
crop. Rowen and fall feed are up to the usual average. Fully
the usual amount of fall seeding has been done, and it is looking
well. Onions are not much grown. Potatoes made a very good
yield and are of good quality if sound, but are rotting badly. The
prospect for root crops, celery and other late market-garden crops
is very good. There is a very light crop of all fruits except pears.

Blackstone (O. F. Fuller) . — Indian corn is backward and frost
has damaged some fields. Fall feed is up to the usual average and
a good crop of rowen has been secured. The usual amount of fall

22

seeding has been done. Onions are little raised. Potatoes are
about an average crop, except that rot has injured them somewhat.
The prospect is good for root crops, celery and other late market-
garden crops. Fruit of all kinds made short yields.

MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

Framingham (J. S. Williams). — The warm, dry weather of
September has helped corn, but less than a normal crop will be
harvested. There is a good rowen crop on early cut fields and
fall feed is unusually good. Not much fall seeding has been done
as yet, but good catches are reported on August seeded fields.
The onion crop is the lightest and poorest for years, with here and
there a good patch. Potatoes will compare favorably with the
normal in yield and quality, but thei'e is considerable complaint of
rot. The outlook for beets, carrots, parsnips and celery is good
for fair crops and good prices. All fruits, especially pears, are
a short supply and poor quality.

Sudbury (E. W. Goodnow). — The corn crop compares unfa-
vorably with the normal. Rowen and fall feed are about the
usual average. The usual amount of fall seeding has been done
and it is looking well. The onion crop will be about normal.
Potatoes are below the average in yield, but are of excellent qual-
ity. The prospect for root crops, celery and other late market-
garden crops is favorable. Apples, pears, peaches and grapes
have turned out poorly this season, but cranberries are a fair crop.

Marlborough (E. D. Howe). — Indian corn is away ofif in con-
dition and not 10 per cent of the crop will ripen. Rowen and fall
feed are above the usual average. The usual amount of fall seed-
ing has been done and is in first-class condition. Onions are little
raised but the crop is about normal. Yield of potatoes 80 per
cent, quality 75 per cent; considerable rot reported. The pros-
pect for root crops, celery and other late market-garden crops is
now good, but if frost comes soon much damage will ensue.
Apples half a crop ; pears three-fourths ; no peaches ; grapes half
a crop ; cranberries 20 per cent.

Stow (G. W. Bradley). — Indian corn is about as nearly a
failure as is possible. Rowen and fall feed are better than for
some years. Quite a good deal of fall seeding has been done and
it is looking finely at present. Onions are a failure in this vicin-
ity. Potatoes are not a good yield and are rotting badly in some
places. There are a few apples, but that is about all in the fruit
line.

23

Westford (J. W. Fletcher). — Indian corn is a very poor crop.
Rowen and fall feed are up to the usual average. Not much fall
seeding has been done as yet. Potatoes are rather below the
normal in yield but are of good quality. The prospect is good for
all kinds of fruit.

Dunstable (A. J. Gilson). — The corn crop is away below the
normal. Rowen and fall feed are above the usual average. Very
little fall seeding has been done as fall work is behind at this
time. The onion crop is light. Potatoes are an uneven crop, on
some farms more than normal and on others very light ; rot has
appeared on nearly all fields, but otherwise the quality is good.
The few root crops raised promise well. Apples are a light crop ;
no pears or peaches ; grapes and cranberries few.

TeioJcsbury (Geo. E. Crosby). — Indian corn will be about one-
third of a normal crop. Rowen and fall feed are above the usual
average. The usual amount or fall seeding has been done and is
in good condition. Yield of onions not quite normal but quality
good. Potatoes are below the normal in yield and quality owing
to rot. The prospect for root crops, celery and other late market-
garden crops is very good. There will be very light yields of all
kinds of fruit.

Billerica (Geo. P. Greenwood) . — Indian corn is very late and
below the average in promise. Rowen and fall feed are up to the
usual average. Onions are below the average in yield. Potatoes
are less than an average crop and are rotting. The prospect is
good for root crops, celery and other late market-garden crops.
Fruits of all kinds are very poor crops, with the exception of pears
and cranberries, which are fair.

Carlisle (E. J. Carr). — Corn is a very poor crop and did not
ear out well. Rowen and fall feed are about average. Very little
fall seeding has been done as yet and it is in poor condition.
Onions are little raised. Potatoes made a fair yield of good
quality, with some rot. Root crops generally will make a poor
yield. Apples few ; no pears, peaches or grapes ; very small
yield of cranberries.

Lincoln (C. S. Wheeler). — What corn there is will be 40 per
cent below the normal in yield. Rowen and fall feed are up to
the usual average. Less than the usual amount of fall seeding has
been done, but it is in fair condition. Onions are an average crop.
Potatoes are a three-fourths crop of fair quality, except that there
is some rot. The prospect is fair for root crops, celery and other
late market-garden crops. Apples are a small crop of poor
quality ; pears average ; grapes short ; cranberries below average.

24

Wakefield (Chas. Talbot). — Indian corn is not more than 70
per cent of a normal crop. Rowen is a long way beyond anything
for years. Very little seeding has been done as yet and some are
breaking up land now for the purpose. Onions are rather late and
about 80 per cent of the usual crop. There is a large crop of good
potatoes with very little rot. Root crops, celery and other late
market-garden crops promise to be fully up to the average. Apples
scarce ; pears plenty ; peaches small crop ; grapes half a crop ;
cranberries 75 per cent of usual crop ; fruit running small.

Stoneham (J. E. Wiley). — Indian corn is not much raised.
Rowen and fall feed are up to the usual average. The usual
amount of fall seeding has been done, but it is too early to state
as to condition. Onions are about half a crop. Yield of potatoes
good and quality good, but there is some rot. The prospect for
root crops, celery and other late market-garden crops is fair.
Apples poor ; pears good ; no peaches ; grapes poor.

Arlington (W. W. Rawson). — Rowen and fall feed are up to
the usual average. Onions are a fair crop. Potatoes are a very
poor crop in yield and quality. The prospect is good for root
crops, celery and other late market-garden crops. There is a poor
crop of apples, pears, peaches and grapes. If the fall is late
such crops as remain will be up to the average.

Weston (H. L. Brown). — Corn is very poor, some fields will
give half to two-thirds of the normal crop and others hardly any.
On early cut fields there is a good crop of rowen, but much of the
haying was late and will not give rowen worth cutting ; fall feed
fairly good. Little seeding has been done as yet, but what I have
seen is looking well. The yield of potatoes is on the whole below
the normal and they are rotting. Roots are rather late owing to
cold, as is celery, but both are looking well. Apples a very poor
crop ; pears a fair crop ; no peaches ; few grapes. Corn for the
silo is not much more than half a crop.

ESSEX COUNTY.

Salisbury (Wesley Pettengill). — Indian corn will not be
more than half a crop unless frost holds off very late. Rowen and
fall feed are above the usual average. Not much fall seeding has
been done in this vicinity. Onions are little raised. Potatoes are
about two-thirds of a normal crop in yield but are of good quality.
Cabbages and turnips are looking well ; celery not much raised.
Apples are better than usual for an off year ; pears good ; peaches
none ; grapes and cranberries very few. Potatoes are rotting
somewhat, about 25 per cent in some fields, not so much in others.

25

Groveland (A. S. Longfellow). — Indian corn will be about
half a crop of poor quality. Rowen and fall feed are as good or
better than usual. About the usual amount of fall seeding has
been done and it is in satisfactory condition. Potatoes yield
well but are rotting badly. Root crops are looking well. There
are very few fall apples, but about half a crop of winter varieties ;
some pears ; no peaches or grapes.

Newbury (Geo. W.Adams). — Indian corn is about 75 per cent
of a full crop. Rowen and fall feed are up to the usual average.
The usual amount of fall seeding has been done but is a little
backward, as many fields were sown late. Onions are about half
a crop. Potatoes are a fair crop, but are rotting quite badly.
Root crops, celery and late market-garden crops will be somewhat
below the average. Apples 25 per cent of a full crop ; pears 75
per cent ; peaches a failure ; grapes not ripening and crop small ;
cranberries not quite an average and uneven, some beds doing
well.

Rowley (D. H. O'Brien). — Corn is about half a normal crop.
Rowen and fall feed are up to the usual average. Not much fall
seeding has been done as yet. Onions are about one-fourth of a
normal crop. The yield of potatoes is about normal, but the
quality is poor. Apples are about half a crop ; other fruits very
scarce. The prospect for root crops, celery and other late market-
garden crops is about normal.

Andover (M. H. Gould). — Indian corn is about 20 per cent
of a normal crop. Rowen and fall feed are above the average.
The usual amount of fall seeding has been done and its present
condition is good. Onions are about half a crop. Yield of pota-
toes good, but many report rot. The prospect is good for root
crops, celery and other late market-garden crops. Fruit of all
kinds has turned out very poorly.

Wenham (N. P. Perkins). — Indian corn is but little raised.
Rowen is quite good on well manured fields, and fall feed is fair.
Farmers are quite late about fall seeding, and considerable is not
yet done, with none up as yet. The onion crop is very short with
many fields an entire failure and the rest curing down very slowly.
Potatoes are rotting very badly, some fields almost a failure ; extra
crop promised but for rot. If the season should hold out well
some root crops will be much improved, but as a whole they will
be light. Apples are a disappointment, being quite small and
dropping badly ; pears are good ; no cranberries or peaches.

26

NORFOLK COUNTY.

Randolph (R. A. Thayer). — Indian corn is about half a normal
crop. Rowen and fall feed are np to the usual average. About
the usual amount of fall seeding has been done and it is looking
well. Onions are about an average crop. Potatoes are au excel-
lent crop, but are rotting badly. Root crops are promising and
celery good ; late corn poor. Market-garden crops have been good
with some exceptions and have brought good prices. Squashes
a poor crop ; tomatoes not ripening as usual. Apples one-third
of a crop ; pears good ; no peaches and grapes.

Stoughton (C. F. Curtis). — Indian corn is about half a crop.
Fall feed is up to the average, but rowen is only about two-thirds
of an average crop. Fall seeding is behind from the press of
work owing to the peculiar season. Potatoes yielded heavily, but
the rot will spoil half of them. Apples half a crop; pears half a
crop ; peaches very poor ; grapes half a crop and cranberries one-
third.

Westwood (H. E. Weatherbee). — Corn is two weeks late and
not filled out well. Rowen and fall feed are better than usual.
There has been the usual amount of fall seeding done and it is
looking well. Onions are a normal crop. Potatoes have rotted
badly and are not of very good quality. Cabbages are not looking
very well. There is a good crop of pears and grapes.

Norfolk (A. D. Towne). — We have not a field of corn where
the ears have matured. Rowen and fall feed are up to the usual
average. Seeding is not all done yet, but what has been done
looks very well. Potatoes are about au average crop in yield and
quality. Root crops will generally be good. Apples are small and
wormy ; pears light crop ; no peaches ; cranberries a good crop,
but not colored well.

Franklin (C. M. Allen). —Indian corn is 90 per cent of a full
crop. Rowen and fall feed are up to the usual average. The
usual amount of fall seeding has been done and it looks very well.
Potatoes are a good crop in yield and quality, but are rotting
somewhat. The prospect is that root crops, celery and other late
market-garden crops will be below the average. Apples very, few ;
pears light ; no peaches ; grapes few ; cranberries light to medium.

BRISTOL COUNTY.

Easton (H. M. Thompson). — Indian corn is much below an
average crop. Rowen and fall feed are up to the usual average.
Weather conditions are favorable to fall seeding and about the

27

usual amount will be accomplished. Onions are little grown. Po-
tatoes have done better than almost any other vegetable, but some
complain that they are rotting somewhat after being dug and do
not promise to keep very well. The prospect is that root crops,
celery and other late market-garden crops will be fair crops, but
hardly up to the average. There are very light crops of all fruits.

Mansfield (Wm. C. Winter). — Corn is below a normal crop,
being late and the ears poorly filled out. Rowen is above an
average crop and fall feed is about average. Little seeding has
been done ; that put in early is doing well, but late sown seeds
are lying dormant from drought. Onions little raised, but a nor-
mal crop. Potatoes are below the normal in yield, but are of
better quality than usual. Prospect is good for root crops, celery
and other late market-garden crops with rain. Apples about half
a crop ; pears two-thirds ; no peaches ; grapes poor ; cranberries
fair,

Attlehorougli (Isaac Alger). — There will not much corn ma-
ture. Rowen and fall feed are up to the usual average. The
usual amount of fall seeding has been done and it is in good con-
dition. Potatoes are a full average crop in yield and quality.
The prospect for root crops, celery and other late market-garden
crops is fair. Apples, pears, peaches, grapes and cranberries
will all give very small crops.

Berkley (R. H. Babbitt). — Corn is two weeks late and will be
much below the average in yield. Rowen and fall feed are about
up to the usual average. Less than the usual amount of fall seed-
ing has been done, but it is looking very well. Onions are much
below an average crop. Potatoes have yielded well, but have,
rotted badly. The prospect is very good for root crops, celery
and other late market-garden crops. Apples poor; pears plenty;
no peaches ; grapes few ; cranberries an average crop.

Westport (A. S. Sherman). — On account of the cold season
corn is late and a frost would injure it badly. Rowen and fall
feed are up to the usual average. The usual amount of fall seed-
ing has been done and it looks well. Potatoes are of good quality
and the crop would have been large but for the rot. Turnips and
cabbages promise well. Pears were plenty but decayed badly ;
all other fruit scarce.

PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

Marshfield (J. H. Bourne). — Indian corn is a poor crop, but
should frost hold off for ten days it would add materially to the
yield. Roweu and fall feed are up to the usual average. The

28

usual amount of fall seeding has been done and the present out-
look is encouraging. Onions are about three-fourths of a normal
crop. Potatoes are below the normal in yield and of fair quality,
but with much rot. The prospect is favorable for root crops,
celery and other late market-garden crops, but they will be less
than usual. Apples and cranberries uneven in yield ; pears good ;
grapes poor.

West Bridgewater (C. P. Howard). — Corn is a very poor crop,
not half a normal one. Rowen is a very heavy crop. There has
been a large amount of fall seeding done and it is doing well.
Potatoes are rotting badly on rich land and the quality is best
where only fertilizers are used. Root crops, celery and other late
market-garden crops are doing very well. There is a light crop of
apples ; no peaches ; plenty of pears ; small crop of grapes, and
but a light crop of cranberries.

Pembroke (Nathaniel Morton). — Indian corn is below a nor-
mal crop. Rowen and fall feed are up to the usual average. Not
as much fall seeding as usual has been done, but it is in fair con-
dition. Onions compare favorably with a normal crop. The yield
of potatoes is fair, but quality poor and they are inclined to rot.
The prospect is good for root crops, celery and other late market-
garden crops. Apples a small crop and poor in quality ; pears
abundant ; no peaches ; grapes a small crop ; cranberries a fair
crop.

Plympton (Winthrop Fillebrown) . — Indian corn is about 65
per cent of a normal crop. Rowen and fall feed are better than
usual. About the usual amount of fall seeding has been done and
the showing is good. The onion crop is very good. Potatoes are
giving a normal yield where they came up well. The prospect is
good for root crops, celery and late market-garden crops. Apples
are fair ; pears good ; peaches poor ; grapes very few. Cran-
berries have turned out in excellent shape on bogs protected from
late spring frosts.

Carver (J. A. Vaughan). — Rowen and fall feed are up to the
usual avei'age. The usual amount of fall seeding has been done
and it is in good condition. Onions are a fair crop. Potatoes
have made an average yield but show some rot. The prospect is
good for root crops, celery and other late market-garden crops.
But few apples and pears ; no peaches and a small crop of cran-
berries.

Mattapoisett (E. C. Stetson). — Indian corn will not give over
two-thirds of a normal crop. Rowen and fall feed are better than
the usual average. There has been very little seeding done as yet
in this section. Onions are a very good crop, but are little raised.

29

Potatoes have made a good yield, but there is some complaint of
rot. The prospect is very good for root crops, celery and other
late market-garden crops. Apples are a light crop ; pears good ;
no peaches or grapes ; cranberries good.

BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

Falmouth (D. R. Wicks). — Corn is about up to the normal
but is a little late. Rowen and fall feed are up to the usual aver-
age, especially fall feed. Seeding is completed and is in fine
growing condition. The onion crop is normal where the seed
germinated. Potatoes have made a fair or average yield with fine
quality and little rot. All root crops bid fair to give good crops.
Some orchards show plenty of apples, while others have very few,
about half a crop of not very good quality. Pears plenty ; peaches
half a crop ; A^ery few grapes ; cranberries half a crop.

Mashpee (W. F. Hammond). — Indian corn is below an average
crop. Rowen and fall feed are about average. There has not
been the usual amount of fall seeding done. Onions are only about
half a crop. There is an average yield of potatoes, but they are
rotting. Root crops are looking well and will be above average.
Apples, pears and grapes half crops ; cranberries not over one-
third of a crop.

Harivich (A. N. Doane). — Indian corn compares favorably
with a normal crop. Rowen and fall feed are not up to the usual
average. Not much fall seeding has been done. Onions are
about an average crop. Potatoes are above the normal in yield
and quality. The prospect is good for root crops, celery and
other late market-garden crops. Apples, pears and grapes poor ;
no peaches ; half a crop of cranberries.

Eastham (J. A. Clark) . — Indian corn is not much raised.
Rowen and fall feed are up to the usual average. Fall seeding is
not practised to any great extent. Onions are little raised. Pota-
toes are very good, both in yield and quality. The prospect is
good for root crops, celery and other late market-garden crops.
Apples, pears and cranberries good.

Truro (D. E. Paine). — Indian corn is not raised. Rowen and
fall feed are not up to the usual average. Very little fall seeding
has been done. Onions are little raised. Potatoes are above the
average in yield and quality. Root crops, celery and other late
market-garden crops are very little raised. Apples are a good
crop and cranberries a fair one.

30

BULLETIN OF
MASSACHUSETTS BOAED OF AGEIOULTUEE.

SOME IMPORTANT SCALE INSECTS.

By Dr. H. T. Feenald, Professor of Entomology, Massachusetts Agricultural

College.

During the past fifteen years injuries to plants, shrubs and trees
by scale insects have become very noticeable, and several of the
worst pests belonging to the group have made their appearance in
this country and have caused the loss of millions of dollars, often
because their small size enabled them to escape notice until it was
too late to save the plants they had attacked. The destruction
caused by these insects has attracted much attention recently, and
in Massachusetts the demand for information concerning them has
exhausted the entire edition of two previous articles on this sub-
ject, published in the Crop Report.* Since these articles were
written additional facts about some of these pests have been learned,
and we now know better how to keep them in check.

The San Jose Scale.
{Aspidiotus perniciosus Comst.)

The home of this, perhaps the worst scale pest, was long un-
known, but it now seems probable that it is a native of China. In
the United States it was first discovered in California, where it
seems to have appeared about 1870. In 1880, when it was first
described. Professor Comstock, after giving the detailed descrip-
tion of the insect, wrote : " From what I have seen of it, I think
that it is the most pernicious scale insect known in this country,"
and this opinion has certainly been sustained by its subsequent
history in the United States.

In 1893 the scale appeared in Virginia, having probably been
received there from New Jersey, and two nurseries in the latter
State proved on examination at this time to be infested with it.
These nurseries had been experimenting with plum stock from

* May, 1901, and June, 1902.

The Scurfy Scale.

The San Jose Scale.

The Oyster-shell Scale.
THREE COMMON ORCHARD SCALES. — Twice Natural Size.

31

California in the hope of finding a variety which would be " cur-
culio proof," and the scale was probably brought east on this stock
and spread all through the nurseries referred to, both of which did
a large wholesale business in the eastern and middle States. Stock
sent out was therefore infested by this scale, which spread in the
nurseries to which it was sent, and thence went out in the retail
sales to all parts of the country. With such methods of distribu-
tion it is no wonder that this scale is now working destruction in
nearly every one of the United States, and in Canada and foreign
countries. In Massachusetts it is now known to occur in over a
hundred cities and towns, often causing much loss, and it is prob-
ably present in many other places from which it has not as yet
been reported.

Food Plants.
This scale seems able to live on almost any plant, but is of
little importance on those which die to the ground each winter, as,
when this happens, any scale on the dead part also dies, and it
does not appear to locate below the ground. It seems to prefer
for its food plants of the botanical family Rosacese, for it thrives
best and becomes injurious to plants of that group, with a few
exceptions, more quickly than on those of any other group. As
the Rosaceae includes most of our fruit trees, small fruits, roses,
thorns and Spiraeas, and as the scale is also a serious enemy to
currants, gooseberries and grapes, nearly all our fruitbearing
trees and plants are included in the list of its favorite food plants.
It is also found on elms, maples, birches, willows, poplars and
many other trees and shrubs, and has once been reported on
spruce and arbor vitce, but in these cases it is doubtful if it
often thrives sufficiently to kill the plant it is on. When it occurs
on such food plants, however, it is no less a menace, as from them
it may spread to other trees and shrubs in the neighborhood, less
resistant to its attacks.

Description and Life History.

The adult female insect is lemon yellow in color but is covered
by a hard dead scale, which is circular in outline, slightly raised
in the centre, forming a sort of nipple, and is about the size of a
pin head. Beneath the scale the insect lies, with its beak thrust
into the plant till it reaches the sap on which it feeds. The scale
being dead and closely fitting the surface of the plant at its edge,
it is impossible to reach and kill the insect beneath by any of the
milder washes.

The winter is passed under the scale in this condition, but the
very young and adult insects appear to die during this time. In

32

the spring those which are alive begin sucking the sap, and about
the first of June become adult. Reproduction now begins, the
young being born alive at the rate of three or four or more nearly
every day for about a month, after which the parent dies. By this
time the first-born young are now adult and beginning to produce
young, however, so that young scale insects may be found at almost
any time from about the fifteenth of June till winter stops their

Fig. 1. — San Joee scale: a, twig showing scale, natural size; h, portion of bark showing
crawling young and scales in various stages. (Howard and Marlatt, Bull. 3, N. S., Div. of
Ent , Dept. of Agr.)

production, though they are more abundant at certain times during
this period than at others.

That an increase in this wa}' must result in the production of an
enormous number of new scales is evident. It has been calculated
that if all tlie progeny of a single female which begins breeding in
June should survive and reproduce in their turn, the number of
female descendants of this female when winter stops reproduction
would be 1,608,040,200, and while this is never the case, it is
not strange that with even a small proportion of this number of
insects sucking the juices from the plant severe injury should
ensue and often cause its quick death. .

33

The young scales are very small, oval, yellow insects, with six
legs which they use in crawling about in search of a place upon
which to settle. It is probable that while they may move about
for four or five days before they locate permanently, in most cases
it is less than two daj's.

Upon finding a satisfactory place on which to locate the young
insect inserts its beak in the plant and begins to suck its juices,
while fine waxy threads appear on the surface of the body and
soon unite to form the covering scale. This is circular in outline,
white in color and highest in the middle. About ten days later
the insect moults, and adds its moulted skin to this scale which
has now become darker, giving the entire scale thus formed a gray
color with a yellowish or whitish centre. Shortly after this, the
female insects moult again, adding the moulted skin to the scale
as before, and now soon become adult.

Distributio7i.

If while the young scale insects are crawling about a bird lights
on the tree, it is not unusual for one or more of them to crawl on
to its feet and thus be carried some distance when it flies, before
they can crawl off again at the bird's next resting place, thus estab-
lishing them in some other portion of the town or city. The larger
insects, also, aid in scattering these insects in this way, while
sudden gusts of wind maj^ carry the young from tree to tree in an
orchard.

The most usual method of distribution, is by means of nursery
stock infested with this pest, each infested plant sent out becom-
ing a centre from which this insect spreads in all directions.

Enemies.

The chief foes of the San Jos6 scale are the lady-bugs or lad}'-
birds. These are small beetles nearly circular in outline and very
convex. One of the most important of these is the "Twice-
stabbed lady-bug," which is about an eighth of an inch long, shin-
ing black, with a small red spot on each side. A much smaller
black beetle, known as Pentilia misella, also feeds upon the scale.

Recently a lady-bug very similar to the "Twice-stabbed lady-
bug" has been found in China, destroying the San Jos6 scale
there, and colonies of this insect have been brought to this country
by the United States Department of Agriculture in the hope that
it may be of equal value here. The results of this experiment
cannot now be determined as sullicient time has not yet elapsed.

Several parasites are also known, but they have not thus far
shown their ability to control the scale, and a fungous disease

34

which also attacks it has failed to accomplish much. Thus far,
in this country, treatment by man has proved necessary, these
natural enemies failing to do more than merely hold the insect
slightly in check.

Treatment.
Many methods of treatment for the scale have been tested and
a number have proved to be of more or less value. The great
difficulty in treating infested plants with sprays is that, as the in-

CL

Fig. 2. — San Jose scale on pear: a, natural size; 6, much enlarged. (Howard, Circ. 3,
2d. ser., Div. of Eat., Dept. of Agr.)

sect obtains its food from the juices of the plant, no arsenical
poison is of the slightest use, and it must be killed by something
which touches it. This is extremely difficult, both because the
insect is so small, even when full grown, and because the scale
over it is very hard and resistant. The only time at which the
insect can be reached with mild sprays, such as kerosene emulsion,
is when it is crawling and before it has formed a scale. But new
young are constantly appearing from about the fifteenth of June
till late in the fall, so that if this method were adopted, spraying
"would have to be repeated every week during at least four months.

35

It is therefore preferable to use stronger insecticides wliile the
trees are dormant in winter, and the best results are obtained by
spraying in February and March and even later, till the buds
begin to open.

Fumigation.
For small trees which it is possible to cover with an air-tight
tent, fumigation is the most reliable treatment which can be used,
as the gas will reach all the insects when a spray would probably
fail to do this ; but the cost of a tent increases so rapidly with its
size that only small trees can profitably be treated in this way. In
the case of nursery stock, however, this is the best treatment to
make use of. Certain cases have been reported in which destruc-
tion of the scale by fumigation has apparently not been a success.
In every case, this seems to have been due to failure in properly
carrying out the directions for the work. Either the tent or box
used was not air-tight, or the potassic cyanide was of the 50 per
cent strength usually sold by druggists instead of the 98 per cent
or 99 per cent strength necessary, or the time during which the
fumigation was continued was not sufficient. Failure to meet any
one of these requirements would give a failure in the results.

Sprayii^g.

Of the many materials used for spraying for the San Jose scale
few are of much value, and none may be expected to destroy all
the scales, as some will in all probability fail to be touched. On
the thoroughness of the work, then, depends the success of the
treatment.

If but a few trees are to be sprayed it is probable that potash
whale-oil soap will cause the least trouble to apply. At the Hatch
Experiment Station at Amherst several brands of this soap were
tested in 1902, and the best results were obtained with Bowker's
Tree Soap. Two pounds of this soap were dissolved in each
gallon of water used, and the solution was sprayed warm, using an
ordinary spray pump and a Vermorel nozzle with very small
opening, giving a fine mist. All parts of trunk and limbs were
covered by the spray, treatment of any portion being stopped
the moment the spray began to drip or run down the bark.

Crude petroleum and kerosene were also used in the form of a
mechanical emulsion with water. This emulsion was produced by
the pump (Kerowater), which has two tanks, one for oil and one
for water, with a line of hose from each to the nozzle where the
two streams combine and are forced out together, the proportion
of each being regulated by attachments of the pistons to the pump

36

handle. The results with both of these materials were less satis-
factory than with whale-oil soap. The strength of oil in the oil-
water mixture should have been 20 per cent, but it varied greatly
from that, and the whole apparatus was heavy and awkward to
handle. As spraying with these materials requires a two-tank
pump, it seems not to be the best method of treatment for small
orchards or infested areas.

The lime, salt and sulphur wash, successfully used on the Pacific
coast for the scale, when first tried in the east proved a failure.
Recently it has been tried again and with generally excellent
results. At the Hatch Experiment Station it proved to be the
best of over a dozen different treatments tried. It is somewhat
difficult to prepare, however, which is its greatest drawback.

To make it, boil 10 pounds of fresh stone lime and 20 pounds
of sulphur with 20 gallons of water in a farmer's kettle for an hour
and a half, stirring frequently. Slake 30 pounds of lime in hot
water and stir in 15 pounds of salt till the last has dissolved.
Now add the lime and salt to the lime and sulphur, and heat for
half an hour. Strain this mixture through burlap into the spray
pump and apply to the trees while it is warm. A fuller descrip-
tion of the methods of making and applying these materials, to-
gether with their cost, has been published as Bulletin 86 of the
Hatch Experiment Station, Amherst, Mass., which can be obtained
by request. It now seems probable that the salt can be omitted
from this mixture without affecting the result injuriously.

Where a tree is quite thoroughly covered with the scales it is of
little use to trj' to save it. The sooner it is destroyed the better,
for the sake of the other trees around.

The Oyster-shell Scale.
{Lepidosajyhes ulmi Linn.)

This insect has been in the United States more than a hundred
years, and is generally present in orchards, and on many of our
ornamental and forest trees and shrubs. The scale is much larger
than the San Jos6 scale and very different in form, being pointed
at one end, rounded at the other, quite long, and frequently curved
to one side (Fig. 3 b) and is brown or gray in color.

If one of these scales be lifted in the fall or winter, beneath it
from twenty to one hundred yellow eggs will be found, besides the
dead bodj' of the mother insect under the pointed end of the scale.
These eggs hatch about the first of June each year, and the tin}'
yellow young crawl about for a few days, seeking places at which to
fix themselves. They then settle down and plunge their beaks into

37

the bark to the sap and begin to feed. A covering scale is soon
formed, protecting the insect beneath, and in the fall the eggs are
deposited there, after which the insect dies. There appears to be
but one brood each year in Massachusetts.

This scale has quite a list of food plants, including the apple,
pear, plum, quince, poplar, willow, ash, lilac and elm. Individual
trees are frequently killed by it, but it is very rare that it spreads
to the trees and shrubs around, killing them all, as is so often the

Fig. 3. — Oyster shell scale: a, under side of female sciile, ghowinij eggs; b, upper side
of same, both much enlarged; c, female scales on a branch, natural size; d, male scale,
much enlarged; e, male scales on branch, natural size. The tine lines to the right of a, b
and d show the real length of the scales. (Howard, U. S. Dept. Agr., Yearbook, 1894.)

case with the San Jos6 scale. It has enemies and parasites which
aid in keeping it in cheek, and its low annual rate of increase
renders it much less to be feared than the last-named pest.

Treatment.

Any treatment effective for the San Jose scale will also destroy

this insect, but its life history is such as to provide an opportunity

for easier methods as well. As all the 3'oung hatch about the

same time — about the first of June — two sprayings at this

38

season, about ten days apart, with kerosene emulsion or Bowker's
Insect Emulsion should be sufficient to keep this insect under
entire control. Kerosene emulsion is made as follows : ^ pound
bard soap, shaved fine, 1 gallon soft water, 2 gallons kerosene.
Dissolve the soap in the water, which should be boiling ; remove
from the fire and pour it into the kerosene while hot. Churn this
with a spray pump till it changes to a creamy, then to a soft,
butter-like mass. Keep this as a stock, using one part in nine of
water.

Bowker's Insect Emulsion comes ready prepared, needing only
to be mixed with water, and is therefore convenient for those who
do not wish to prepare the kerosene emulsion for themselves.

The Scurfy Scale.
( Ch ionaspis furfura Fitch. )

This is also a common scale in the United States though it is
apparently less common in Massachusetts than farther south.

The female is somewhat
smaller than that of the
oyster-shell scale, but is
broader and of a dirty
white color (Fig. 4, a and
c). The male scale (Fig.
4, h and d) is much smaller
and narrower.

This insect, like the last,
lays eggs beneath the scale
in the fall. These eggs,
which are from ten to
seventy-five in number, are
purplish in color and hatch
about the first of June into
purplish young, which crawl
about, as do those of the
oyster-shell scale, for a few days before settling down to feed.
The remainder of the life history is similar to that of the last-
named insect, and the treatment for both is the same.

The scurfy scale occurs on the apple, pear, quince, peach, cur-
rant, Japan quince, mountain ash and many other plants, but is
not generally so abundant as to endanger the life of the plant.

Fig. 4. — fcicurfy scale: «, female, b, male scales
natural size on twigs; c, female scales, much en-
larged; d, male scale, much enlarged. (Howard,
U. 8. Dept. Agr., Yearbook, 1S94.)

39

Lecaniujis or Soft Scales.
These scales are very different in appearance from those already
considered, being comparatively soft and easily crushed. More-
over, they are quite large as compared with most of the hard or
" armored" scales, and when adult are very convex, many having
a nearly hemispherical form (Fig. 5). They feed on the juices of
many plants, including palms and ferns in greenhouses, and give
trouble to fruit growers on plum and other fruit trees, and are
often serious pests on maples, oaks, tulip trees, etc.

Fig. 5. — Peach soft scale: female scales ou twig, natural size; upper side of a scale in
upper left corner ; under side of same in lower left corner ; scale cut lengthways in middle
of left side; young, and full grown but still crawling scales on right side; all much enlarged
except the scales on the twig. (Howard, U. 8. Dept. Agr , Yearbook, 1S94.)

In many cases nature has established a sort of equilibrium for
these insects which, a^ter two or three years of great abundance,
are overcome by their foes and are not again abundant enough to
be noticed for a number of years. Where treatment seems to be
necessary, however, it must be adapted to the particular kind of
soft scale concerned, as the best treatment for one species might
not prove successful for another. In such a case, therefore, the
particular kind to be treated and the best application to use should
be learned by sending specimens to the experiment station of the
State.

These scales, like the plant lice, produce a sweetish liquid which
falls from their bodies to the leaves, stems and ground, where it
dries somewiiat, becoming sticky. Of this " honey dew" ants are
very fond, and often visit infested trees in large numbers to feed
upon it. It also forms a good place for the growth of a fungus,
which turns it black, giving to the leaves and stems it is on a
smutty appearance.

40

Summary.

The San Jos6 scale is now generally distributed throughout the
United States.

It feeds upon nearl}' all kinds of plants but appears to be most
destructive to those of the family Rosacese and a few others.

Those individuals which are alive in tlie spring become adult
and begin to produce young about the middle of June, and young
are continually being produced from that time till after frosts
come in the late fall.

The enormous number of young produced quickly causes severe
injury or even death to infested trees.

The crawling young are distributed by birds, insects and winds.
Scales in all stages are distributed on infested nursery stock.

Though this pest has a number of enemies none have as yet
shown themselves able to keep it under control.

Treatment of small plants and trees is most successful by fumi-
gation. This is not practicable for large trees on account of the
cost, and spraying must be resorted to. This should be done
between the first of February and the time the buds open.

The best spraying material for use on a small number of plants
is probably Bowker's Tree Soap, because it is easy to prepare and
needs no special kind of apparatus.

On a larger scale the lime, salt and sulphur wash has proved
more effective but is rather difficult to prepare.

When a tree is covered with the scale it is hardly worth treating
and should be destroyed at once.

The oyster-shell scale young hatch about the first of June, and
may be destroyed at this time by spraying twice with kerosene
emulsion or Bowker's Insect Emulsion.

The young of the scurfy scale also hatch about the first of June,
and the best treatment for them is the same as for the oyster-shell
scale.

Any of the treatments suggested for the San Jos6 scale will also
destroy the oyster-shell and scurfy scales.

Series of 1903.

Bulletin No. 6.

MASSACHUSETTS "^^'^- ■. ''

CEOP KEPOET

Month of October, 1903.

ISSUED BY

J. LEWIS ELLSWORTH,

Secretary State Board of Agriculture.

BOSTON :
WRIGHT & POTTER PRINTING CO., STATE PRINTERS,
18 Post Office Square.
1903.

Ckop Eepoet for the Month of October, 1903.

Office of State Board of Agriculture,
Boston, Mass., Nov. 2, 1903.

Bulletin Xo. G, Crop Report for the month of October, is
herewith presented as the final issue of the season. We
desire to thank our correspondents for the assistance they
have so freely given, making the publication of these bulletins
possible, and we shall look to them another year for the
same measure of eifective and interested work.

The special articles printed this year have been : Bulletin
No. 1 5 " Fruits for the home garden : varieties and culture,"
by Prof. F". A. Waugh ; Bulletin No. 2, " Summer manage-
ment of the dairy herd," by Prof. ¥. S. Cooley ; Bulletin
No. 3, "Bee keeping: its pleasures and profits, '* by Dr.
James B. Paige; Bulletin No. 4, "The management of
poultry on small farms," by John H. Robinson ; and Bulletin
No. 5, "Some important scale insects," by Prof. FI. T.
Fernald. Particular attention is called to the article on
" The prevention of some fungous diseases attacking green-
house cro})S," by Dr. Geo. E. Stone, which is printed at the
close of this bulletin.

Progress of the Season.

The October returns of the United States Department of
Agriculture (Crop Reporter for October, lyOo) show the
average condition of corn October 1 to have been ^0.8, as
compared with 80.1 a month earlier, 7iK() on Oct. 1, 11)02,
52.1 at the corresponding date in lliOl, and a ten-year
average of 7 7 . 7 .

The preliminary estimate of the average yield per acre of
spring wheat is 14.4 bushels, and the average quality was
85.5, as compared with 87.7 a year ago.

The preliminary returns indicate an average yield of 28.4
bushels of oats per acre, as compared with 34.5 bushels a

year ago, 25.1 in 1901, and a ten-year average of 27.8. The
average of quality was 79.9, against 86.7 in 1902 and 83.7
in 1901.

The preliminary estimate of the yield per acre of barley
was 26.4 bushels, against 29 a year ago, 24.7 in 1901, and
a ten-year average of 23.8. The average for quality was
85.4, against 87.3 last year and 89.2 in 1901.

The preliminary estimate of the yield per acre of rye was

15.4 bushels, against 17 last year, 15.1 in 1901, and a ten-
year average of 14.8. The average for quality was 88.4,
against 91.8 last year and 89.4 in 1901.

The average condition of buckwheat on October 1 was 83,
as compared with 91 a month ago, 80.5 on Oct. 1, 1902,

90.5 in 1901, and a ten-year average of 79.7.

The average condition of potatoes on October 1 was 74.6,
against 84.3 a month previous, 82.5 on Oct. 1, 1902, 54 in
1901, and a ten-year average of 73.1.

The average condition of tobacco on October 1 was 82.3,
as compared with 83.4 a month earlier and 82.9 on Aug. 1,
1903.

The average condition of rice on October 1 was 90.6, as
compared with 93.6 a month earlier and 92 on Aug. 1, 1903.

The average condition of cotton on September 25 was
65.1, as compared with 81.2 a month earlier, 58.3 on Sept.
25, 1902, 61.4 in 1901, and a ten-year average of 67.4.

In Massachusetts the average condition of corn October 1
was given as 52 ; the average yield of oats as 31.1, and the
average qualit}^ as 91 ; the average yield of rye as 13.7, and
the average condition as 92 ; the average condition of buck-
wheat as 74 ; the average condition of tobacco as 80 ; the
average condition of potatoes as 77 ; and the average condi-
tion of apples as 68.

Massachusetts Weather, 1903.

[Coiiipiled from data furnished by the New England Weather Service.]

The weather of January was of the usual mid-winter type.
Several severe storms passed over the State, and frequent
severe gales were experienced along the coast. The weather
was somewhat milder than usual for January, the mean
temperature being about 1° above the normal. There were

no unusual extremes of temperature, and the usual warm
period, or " January thaw," was absent. The precipitation
showed a slight deficiency, as compared with the normal
of the month. The snowfall was also rather light, but,
owing to the uniform temperature, the ground was generally
well covered until the close of the month.

February was marked by rapid and pronounced changes
in the weather. A heavy snowstorm, a cold wave, a thaw,
thunderstorms and gales of hurricane force were prominent
features. The storm of the 16th-17th was unusually severe.
It reached all sections with heavy snow, and gales of great
violence occurred along the coast. The month was warmer
than usual for Februarj^ the monthly temperature being
about 2° above the normal. The precipitation was also in
excess, but the distribution was somewhat irregular. At
the close of the month the ground was generally bare of snow.

The weather during March was very pleasant, although
unseasonal, and some of its elements were phenomenal and
without precedent in a century of authentic meteorological
records. The precipitation was largely in excess, the
monthly amounts being from iy2 to 2 inches above this
normal. The snowfall, was, however, unusually light, and
at the close of the month there was none on the ground.
The monthly mean temperature was the highest of official
record, covering a period of thirty-two years, and averaged
10° above the normal for March. According to authentic
records covering a period of a hundred years the month was
the warmest of its name within a century.

The weather of April was uneventful, and generally char-
acteristic of the season. The temperature was somewhat in
excess, ranging about 1.5 above the monthly normal. The
precipitation was near the normal, the departures generally
being from one-quarter to one-half below the usual monthly
amounts. Generally speaking, April was a pleasant month.
At its close the season was estimated to be from a week to
ten days in advance of the normal.

May was distinguished by a preponderance of sunn^
weather and a marked defici(>ncy of precipitation. The
temperature conditions presented no unusual features, ex-
cept some noticeable extremes during the first week of the

(5

month, which ranged from summer heat to winter cold.
There was a general freeze on the morning of the 2d. Dur-
ing the third week of the month the temperature conditions
were characteristic of mid-summer weather, the mercury
ranging well into the 80's. By the middle of the month
rain was much needed, and toward the close, vegetation
showed the effect of the drought, and streams, lakes and
wells were becoming low. The rainfall was from two to
three inches below the normal' for the month.

During tlie first three days of June the skies were clear,
with summer-like temperatures. During the nine days fol-
lowing the skies were overcast, with the daily temperatures
ranging from 4° to 6° below the seasonal average. On the
8th the first rain of the month fell, beginning the breaking
of the long drought, which commenced soon after the middle
of April. From the 13th to the 25th the weather was
characterized by abnormally low temperatures, continuous
cloudiness and almost daily rains. The rainfall of the
month was unusually large, the amounts ranging from two
to three times the normal of June. With slight exceptions
during the opening and closing days of the month, the
temperature was continuously below the average, and the
month, one of the most unpleasant of its name.

The Aveather of July was uneventful, and, for the greater
part, of the mid-summer type. The opening days were
overcast, with occasional showers and seasonal temperatures.
Little rain fell from the 6th to the 18th, and from the 8th
to the 12th a warm wave of considerable intensity prevailed.
The chief storm of the month began the 18th, giving general
and quite heavy rains. A season of showers and local storms
followed. The closing week was pleasant, the weather,
with the exception of scattered showers, being fair, with an
abundance of sunshine. The monthly mean temperature
was very near the normal. The total rainfall of the month
was considerably below the normal, but on account of fairly
equitable distribution throughout the month the deficiency
was hardly noticeable.

The first tlu'ee days of August were clear, although some-
what cool, but Averc followed by nearly a week of cloudy,
rainy weather, the temperature continuing low. After the

9th fair weather prevailed for nearly a week, with more than
an average amount of sunshine. The temperature also
ranged higher, though continuing below the normal, with
cool nights. After the 19th there was much cloudiness and
deficiency of sunshine through the greater portion of the
remainder of the month. From the 19th to the 23d the
temperatiu-e was generally normal, but from the 25th un-
seasonably low temperatures set in, continuing nearly to the
last of the month. The precipitation of the month was some-
what below the normal, but was quite well distributed. The
month was an exception from nearly all Augusts, in tl^e abnor-
mally low temperature, with few warm, sumnierlike days.

September opened with warm, pleasant and sunn}^ weather,
with temperature normal and above during the first five days.
This period of fair weather was broken on the 5th with
showers and storms, accompanied by hail in some instances.
From the 6th to the 9th cooler temperatures prevailed, with
night temperatures sufficiently low to cause frosts in many
places, which were not widespread and severe. After the
9th the temperature again rose and was much above the nor-
mal until the 19th. On the l()th and 17th general and quite
heavy showers occurred, with high winds, succeeded by a
period of fair weather, although with more or less cloudiness.
On the 27th general showers occurred, with copious rainfall,
but from the morning of the 28th until the close of the month
generally clear weather prevailed. From the 19th to the
close of the month the temperature was generally seasonal.
In general the weather conditions of the month were seasonal
and very favorable.

Weather of October, 1903.
The first week of the month was very pleasant, the weather
being characteristic of the season, with generally sunny skies
and temperatures ranging in the ()0s. ; but the second seven
days were in sharp contrast to the first, a pronounced easterly
storm prevailing from the 7th to the 13th inclusive, during
which excessive rains fell in all sections, and easterly g-ales,
with fog, prevailed along the coast. During the prevalence
of this disturbance shipping of all classes was tied up on
account of the gales and high seas, and the rainfall equalled,

8

and in many instances exceeded, the usual monthly amount.
A storm of considerable intensity passed over the section on
the 17th-18th, during which heavy rains fell and high winds
occurred in coast sections. There was little rainfall durinof
the remainder of the month, and generally speaking the skies
were clear. High winds and gales, however, on the 25th,
26th and 27th delayed shipping and resulted in loss of life
and property. The temperature was almost continuously
above the seasonal average until the 20th of the month, after
which the weather was somewhat cooler than usual, with
frosts and freezing weather on the 25th and 27th, which
reached nearly all sections. Taking the month as a whole,
the temperature was considerably above the average.
Excepting the second week, the weather of the month was
favorable for harvesting and housing crops, and to farm
operations generally. The abundant moisture and high
temperatures were favorable to vegetation, and feed and
pasturage of good quality are abundant, and stock will go to
the barn for winter feeding in o-ood condition. Viewing
the month throughout, the weather was fairly satisfactory
and nearly the average for October.

Crops of the Year.

The month of May was unusually dry, and the drought
checked vegetation and prevented the germination of seeds.
Pastures and mowings suffered from drought, and at the
close of the month the prospect was for but a scanty crop
of hay. Fall seeding wintered well, but also suffered from
drought. The apple bloom was a good one for a non-bearing
year. Peaches bloomed only in a few localities, and the
bloom of pears, cherries and plums was severely injured by
frost. Insects did but little damage. Spraying is little
practised except by fruit specialists, but is slowlj^ growing
in favor. Farm help was rather more difficult to obtain
than for several years. Wages averaged $20 per month
with board, and $1.50 per day without board. There was
a slight increase in the acreage of corn.

Insects did little damage in June, the cold, wet weather
perhaps holding them in check. Indian corn was very small

9

and backward at the close of the month, and turning yellow
in many instances. Haying had not begun, the rainy
weather preventing, but a great improvement in the crop
was indicated. The acreage of forage crops seemed likely
to be considerably increased. Tlie acreage of early potatoes
was about normal, and the vines were not far enough ad-
vanced to give a reliable indication of the final outcome,
though prospects were not of the best. Early market-
garden crops had generally made poor yields, with increased
prices. The flow of milk was remarkably well maintained,
with upward tendencies in the price of dairy products,
particularly milk. Pastures were much improved by the
rains. The strawberry crop was nearly a failure, from frost,
drought and rain. Pears, cherries and plums promised light
crops. Apples set well and promised a good yield for an
off year.

In July very little damage from insects was reported.
Indian corn improved somewhat during the month, but at
the close was still very uneven and backward, and warmer
weather Avas needed to develop the crop. Much of the crop
is used for ensilage. The frecjuent rains delayed haying and
at the close of the month it was still uncompleted in many
sections. Rains and warmer weather improved the crop, so
that about a normal yield would eventually be secured.
Rather more forage crops than usual were Y)lanted, and,
with the exception of corn, were reported to be in excellent
condition. Market-garden crops promised well, with light
yields and high prices for those harvested. No early pota-
toes had been dug, but the crop showed excellent promise.
The apple crop was greatly reduced by the mid-sunuiier drop,
but was still above the average for a non-bearing year.
Pears, cherries and plums did not improve ; quinces and
grapes promised somewhat better, though not heavy crops ;
cranberries a short crop, owing to late frosts. Pastures
were seldom in better condition. Oats and barle}^ promised
well for forage crops, and are mainly used for that pur-
pose.

August rojiorts on Indian corn were most discouraging,
and almost a total failure of the crop was looked for, so far

10

as the grain was concerned, without mid-summer weather in
September. The rowen crop was unusually heavy on early
cut fields, but so many fields were cut very late that not
more than an average crop seemed likely. Potatoes were
somewhat backward, but a fair to good crop was promised,
although blight had generally appeared and there were some
reports of rot. The acreage of tobacco is about the same as
last year, but the prospect for the crop was very poor, taken
as a w^hole. Apples promised a good crop for an off year ;
pears a fair crop ; practically no peaches ; grapes fair ; and
cranberries light. Pastures were generally in first-class con-
dition. Oats gave a fair average crop, with barley doing
well for forage and little raised for grain.

The warm weather of September brought Indian corn for-
ward rapidly, but it was nevertheless one of the poorest
crops ever secured, poorer even than that of 1902. About
an average crop of rowen was indicated, and the weather of
the month w^as very favorable for securing the crop. Fall
feed was in excellent condition. All farm work was delayed
by the lateness of haying, and less fall seeding than usual
was done during the month, but the work progressed well
and that sowed early made a good catch. Onions were a
very poor crop in most localities. Potatoes promised to be
an unusually good crop, but were shortened by rot, which
was general throughout the State, and not more than a three-
fourths crop was secured. Root crops generally promised
well, though somewhat late. Celery also promised well, as
did other late market-garden crops, but all needed further
warm weather. Apples were blown from the trees to a con-
siderable extent, but still give a better crop than usual in an
off year. Pears were a fair crop ; peaches very few ; grapes
nearly a failure ; and cranberries a light crop in the sections
of commercial production.

In the circular to correspondents r(;turnable October 23
the following questions were asked : —

1. AVhat is the value of the corn crop compared w^itli a
normal crop?

2. Have root crops proved to be average croj)S?

3. What is the condition of farm stock?

4. What is the condition of fall seedino:?

11

5. How have prices of crops raised for market compared
with former years ?

6. Which of the leading crops in your locality liave been
most profitable ?

7. Which of the leading cro]:>s in your locality have been
least profitable ?

8. Considered as a whole, has the season been a profit-
able one for your farmers?

Returns were received from 146 correspondents, from
which the following summary has been made : —

Value of the Corn Crop.
Seldom, if ever, has the crop of Indian corn been of as
little value in Massachusetts as in the present year. The
conditions of the spring and summer months were extremely
unfavorable for the growth and development of the crop, and
the open fall was not sufficient to repair the damage done.
Taking the uses of the crop for gTain, stover and ensilage
into consideration probably its value is a little over one-half
that of a normal crop for the State as a whole.

Root Crops.

Root crops are generally reported to be good average

cro[)8, and where raised for market are bringing good prices.

Potatoes are a light crop as a whole, owing to rot, but have

generally sold well. Celery appears to be a very good crop.

Farm Stock.

Pasture feed has l)een good throughout the season, and
has remained so to an unusually late date. There is hardly
a correspondent reporting farm stock to be in anything but
the best of condition, and it will go to the barns in prime
flesh.

Fall Seeolxg.

Less fall seeding than usual has been done, farm work of
all kinds being delayed by tlie lateness of haying. That
sown early was generally reported to have made good growth
and to be in fine condition. Later sown made a gfood catch
and promises well, though backward.

12

Prices.
Of the 138 correspondents answering the question in regard
to prices received for crops raised for marlcet, 47 speak of
them as average, 85 as higher than usual and only 2 as lower
than usual. Shortages in many crops doubtless account for
the upward trend of prices. Market-garden crops have all
sold well. Dairj' products and poultry products have also
brought higher prices than usual.

Most Profitable Crops.
Ninety-one correspondents, more than a majority, con-
sider ha}^ to have been among the most profitable crops ; 44,
potatoes; 11, cabbages; 7, oats; 7, sweet corn; 7, cranber-
ries ; 5, dairy products ; 3, tobacco ; 3, apples ; 3, forage
crops; 2, fruit; 2, asparagus; 2, lettuce; 2, beets; 2,
tomatoes; 1, strawberries ; 1, cucumbers ; 1 , ruta-bagas ; 1^
market-garden crops ; 1, root crops ; 1, beans ; 1, squashes y
1, berries ; 1, poultry products ; 1, carrots ; 1, onions ; and
1, corn.

Least Profitable Crops.

One hundred and four correspondents, an unprecedentedly
large number to unite on an}^ one crop, report that Indian
corn is among the least profitable crops raised ; 20, potatoes ;
8, onions; 6, squashes; 6, apples; 6, tomatoes; 6, fruit;
4, vegetables ; 2, peas ; 2, melons; 2, sweet corn; 1, beans;
1, cucumbers; 1, root crops; 1, tomatoes; 1, tobacco ; 1,
oats; and 1, buckwheat.

Profits of the Season.
The present season can hardly be called a profitable one
for our farmers. Most crops gave poor yields, which were
only in a measure balanced by good prices. Dair}^ products
sold readily and at good prices, but the failure of the corn
crop for grain and ensilage must reduce or even wipe out the
profits of many dairymen during the coming winter. ]Mar-
ket-gardeners generally had a good year, but horticulturists
and general farmers a poor one. Of the 141 correspondents
answering this question 36 considered the season to have
been profitable, 27 fairly profitable, 14 an average season
for profit, while iiH think it has not been a profitable one.

13

:n^otes op correspondents.

(Returned to us October 26.)

BERKSHIRE COUNTY.

New Marlborough (E. W. Rhoades). — Indian corn is not over
■one-fourth of a normal crop in value. Root crops are full crops,
with the exception of cabbages, which are very poor. Farm stock
looks well and thrifty. Fall seeding is late, but is coming on well.
Good prices have been realized for market crops. Potatoes have
been our most profitable crop and corn our least profitable one.
The season has not been a profitable one, owing to early drought,
followed by cold and wet weather.

Tyringham (E. H. Slater). — Corn is about three-fourths of a
normal crop in value. Root crops have done fairly well this
season. Farm stock is in good condition. Only a little fall seed-
ing has been done. Prices for crops raised for market, have been
about the same as last year. The grass crop is the most profitable
one raised, and the born crop the least profitable one. Considered
as a whole the season has not been as profitable as usual.

Lee (A. Bradlet). — Corn is about half a crop. Root crops
are full normal crops. Farm stock is in first-class condition.
Prices for crops raised for market have ranged 10 per cent higher
than usual. Hay has been our most profitable crop and corn our
least profitable one. As a whole the season has proved an average
one for profit with our farmers.

Slockbridge (F. A. Palmer). — Indian corn is 50 per cent of a
normal crop in value. Root crops have proved to be average
crops. Farm stock is in fine condition. Fall seeding is in ex-
cellent condition. Prices for crops raised for market have been
up to the usual mark. Grass and oats have been our most profit-
able crops and corn our least profitable one. The season has been
a fairly profitable one, but losses on corn and potatoes, with help
high, does not leave a large margin for the farmer.

Richmond (T. B. Salmon). — Indian corn is a very poor crop.
Root crops are up to the usual average. Farm stock is in very
good condition. Very little fall seeding has been done. Prices

u

for crops raised for market have been up to the average. Oats and
hay have been our most profitable crops and corn our least profit-
able one. The season has not been very profitable ; about an
average one

Washington (E. H. Eames). — Coin is about 25 per cent of a
full crop in value. Root crops are liUle raised. Farm stock is in
good condition. No fall seeding is done in this vicinity. Prices
for market crops have ranged about the same as last yt'ar, except
that potatoes are a little higher. Potatoes have been our most
profitable crop and corn our least profitable one. Taking every-
thing into consideration the farmers have done as well as for the
last two years, but not as well as in some former years.

Laneshorough (Scott Jenks). — Indian corn is about a three-
fourths crop. Root crops have proved to be above the usual
average. Farm stock is in good condition. Fall seeding is in
good condition. Prices for crops raised for market have been
about average. Hay has been our most profitable crop and corn
our least profitable one. The season has not been as profitable as.
last year, taken as a whole.

New Asliford (Elihd Ingraham). — Corn is about half a crop
in value. Root crops have proved to be average crops. Farm
stock is in fine condition. Fall seeding is in fair condition. Prices
for cro|)s raised for market have been about average. Oats are
our most profitable crop, and corn our least profitable one. Con-
sidered as a whole, the season has been a profitable one for our
farmers.

Savoy (W. W. Burnett). — Indian corn is but a small percent-
age of an average crop. Root crops are about half crops on tlie
whole. Farm stock is in first-rate condition. Fall seeding is in
fair condition. Prices for crops raised for market have been a
fair average this year. The grass crop has been our most profitable
one and corn our least profitable crop. On the whole the season
falls short of an average season for profit to farmers. The first
killing frost came on the morning of October 25th, the latest in
my remembrance.

FRANKLIN COUNTY.

Haidey (C. C. Fuller). — Indian corn is less than half a normal
crop in value. Root crops are up to the usual average. Farm
stock is in good condition. Fall seeding is looking well. Prices
for crops raised for market have been about an average of those
received in former years. Hay and potatot'S have been our most
profitable crops and corn our least profitable one. Considered as
a whole, the season has been a profitable one for our farmers.

15

Colrain (A. A. Smith). — Corn is about half a normal crop in
value. Root crops have proved to be average crops. Farm stock
is in good condition. Fall seeding is in fine condition. Prices
received for cro|)s raised for market have been fully equal to those
of former years. G-rass has been our most profitable crop and
corn our least profitable one. Considered as a whole the season
has been an unprofitable one for our farmers.

Sh(^lhnrne (Geo. E. Taylor). — The corn crop is from one-half
to two-thirds of a normal crop in value. Farm slock is in good
tlirifty condition. Fall seeding is in fine condition. Prices for
crops raised for market have ranged about the same as last year.
Hay and grass have been our most profitable crops and corn our
least profitable one. This has been a hard season, but the profit
in farming lies in the skillful disposition of the crops raised.

Gill (F. F. Stoughton). — The value of the corn crop is about
two-thirds or three-fourths of the normal. Few roots are raised.
F'arm stock is in good condition. Prices for crops raised for
market have been fully as high as usual. Grass has been our most
profitable crop and corn our least profitable one. Considered as
a whole the season has not been a profitable one for our farmers.

Siihderkmd (J. M. J. Legate). — The value of the corn crop
is what it is worth for stover, or a very little more. Root crops
are not up to the usual average. Farm stock has come in in fine
condition. Fall seeding was never in better condition. Prices
for crops raised for market have been about average. The pres-
ent prospect is that tobacco will prove to be our most profitable
crop. Corn and onions are our least profitable crops. This has
not been a profitable year, being even less so than last year, which
we thought a very hard one.

Moviiigup (C. S. Raymond) . — The value of the corn crop is
about 40 per cent of that of a normal crop. Taking the several
root crops together they are about average in condition. Farm
stock is generally in good condition. Fall seeding is in very good
condition. Prices for crops raised for market have been some-
what better than usual, perhaps 10 per cent. Potatoes have been
our most profitable crop and corn our least profitable one. I
think the season should be called a profitable one, but in most
cases the profit is very small.

Northfield (T. R. Callender). — The corn crop is not over 50
p*^r cent of the normal value. Root crops have proved to be aver-
age crops. Farm stock is in good condition. Some fall seeding
is late, but all is looking well. Prices for crops raised for market
have been fully up to the usual average. Potatoes and hay have
been our most profitable crops and cucumbers for pickling our

16

least profitable one. The season has been one of the most un-
profitable in my remembrance.

Neio Salem (Daniel Ballard). — The corn crop is probably
less than 50 per cent of a normal crop in value. Root crops are
about average. Farm stock is looking well. What fall seeding
has been done looks well, but little has been put in. Prices iox
crops raised for market have maintained a fair average. Hay has
been our most profitable crop and corn our least profitable one.
The season has not been particularly profitable. Farm help has
been scarce and high and much needed work has been neglected.

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.

Enfield (D. 0. Chickering). — Indian corn is about half a crop
in value. Root crops have proved to be good crops. Farm stock
is in good condition. Fall seeding is looking well. Prices have
been about the same as usual for market crops. Hay has been
our most profitable crop and corn our least profitable one. I do
not think the season has been a profitable one, considered as a
whole.

Belchertoivn (H. C. West). — Judging from present appear-
ances the value of the corn crop will be about three-fourths that
of a normal crop. Root crops are fully up to the average. Farm
stock is in fairly good condition, but hardly up to the average.
Fall seeding was never in better condition. Prices for crops raised
for market have been fully up to the average. All our crops have
been fairly good, with no failures except some kinds of fruit.
The season has been fairly profitable, though it has been a hard
one to grow, care for and harvest crops, but where this has been
met by extra exertion the result is satisfactory.

Amherst (Wm. P. Brooks). — Where corn is raised for grain it
is half of a normal crop in value, where for ensilage it is two-thirds.
Root crops are above the average. Farm stock is in excellent
condition. Fall seeding is above the average in condition. Prices
for crops raised for market are rather above the average. Tobacco
(if it sells well), hay and potatoes have been our most profitable
crops aud corn and onions our least profitable ones. Including
the onion growers the season has hardly been a profitable one for
our farmers. Frosts have held off unusually late and there is
occasional fruit bloom on vines and fruit trees.

SotUh Hndley (H. W. Gaylord). — Corn is about half a normal
crop, ranging from good down to almost nothing. Root crops are
not up to the average, results being very uneven. Farm stock is
in fine condition. Fall seeding generally in good condition, that
sown early being especially so. Hay, with perhaps fruit next,

17

has been our most profitable crop and corn our least profitable
one. The season has not been a profitable one because the in-
creasing cost of everything the farmer has to buy, including labor,
has not been met by any corresponding increase in prices received.

Southampton (C. B. Lyman). — The value of the corn crop is
about 40 per cent of that of a full crop. Root crops are up to the
usual average. Fall seeding is in good condition. Prices for
crops raised for market have been fully up to the usual average.
Grass has been our most profitable crop and corn our least profit-
able one. Considered as a whole, the season has not been a very
profitable one for our farmers.

Goshen ( Alvan Barrus) . — The value of the corn crop does
not exceed 50 per cent of the normal, including ensilage. Root
crops will fall 25 per cent below the average. Farm stock is in
normal condition, or a little better. Fall seeding is generally in
good condition. Prices for crops are high with very little fit for
the market. Hay has been our most profitable crop and corn and
garden crops our least profitable ones. The season has been very
unsatisfactory and unprofitable. The apple crop is very uneven,
but better than expected ; prices not yet established.

Worthington (C. K. Brewster). — Indian corn is not more than
one-fourth of a normal crop. Root crops are a good deal less than
average crops. Farm stock is in good condition. Fall seeding is
in fair condition. Hay and potatoes have been our most profitable
crops and corn our least profitable one. Prices for crops raised
for market fully as strong as usual. Considered as a whole the
season has not been a profitable one for our farmers.

Middlefield (J. T. Bryan). — There is very little mature corn
and the stover is small. Root crops have proved to be average
crops. Farm stock is in excellent condition. Fall seeding is in
good condition. Prices have been good for all produce. Hay,
fodder crops, potatoes and fruit have been our most profitable
crops and corn our least profitable one. The season as a whole
has been fairly favorable.

HAMPDEN COUNTY.

Tolland (E. M. Moore). — Corn is about 50 per cent of a nor-
mal crop in value. Roots have done well and are average crops.
Farm stock is in good condition. Land that was seeded early is
in good condition. Grass has been our most profitable crop and
corn our least profitable one. Considered as a whole, the season
has been fairly profitable, but not above the average.

Russell (E. D. Parks) . — Corn is less than half a crop as to value
of grain, but about normal as to stover. Root crops are about

18

average crops. Farm stock is in good condition, fall feed being
still good. Fall seeding seems to be doing nicely. Prices for
market crops have been equal or above those of former years.
Hay and potatoes have been our most profitable crops and corn
and fruits our least profitable ones. It has not been a good year
for farmers, everything being backward, and some crops having
to be replanted.

Agawam (J. G. Bdrt). — Root crops are not up to the usual
average. Farm stock is in good condition. Fall seeding is in
good condition. Prices for crops raised for market have been
higher than usual. Sweet corn has been our most profitable crop
and tobacco our least profitable one. Considered as a whole the
season has not been a profitable one for our farmers.

West SprimfieM (T. A. Rogers). — Corn is not more than a
two-thirds crop in value. Root crops are not over 80 per cent of
the usual average. Farm stock is looking well. Fall seeding has
a fair start and weather conditions are very favorable. Prices for
crops raised for market have ranged rather above the usual aver-
age. Hay and berries have been our most profitable crops, and
corn, potatoes, onions and most fruits our least profitable ones.
The year is generally regarded as a very hard one. Few crops
have matured well.

Chicopee (R. W. Bemis). — Indian corn is two-thirds of a crop.
Root crops have all done well. Farm stock is in good condition.
Not much fall seeding has been done, but that put in is in good
condition. Prices for crops raised for market have been good.
Hay or grass has been our most profitable crop and onions our
least profitable one. Considered as a whole the season has been a
profitable one for our farmers.

East Longmeadoiv (J. L. Davis). — The corn crop is 50 per
cent of a normal crop in value. Root crops are up to the usual
average. Farm stock is in good condition. Fall seeding i*s in
good condition. Average prices have been received for crops
raised for market. Hay has been our most profitable crop and
potatoes our least profitable one. The season has not been a prof-
itable one, as wages have been high and the weather poor.

Palmer (O. P. Allen). — Indian corn is about half a crop in
value. Root crops are up to the usual average. Farm stock is in
very good condition. Fall seeding is in good condition. Prices
for crops raised for market are fully up to the usual average. Po-
tatoes have been our most profitable crops and corn our least prof-
itable one. Considered as a whole, the season has not been as
profitable as usual.

Wales (G. S. Rogers). — Corn is not one-tenth of a normal

19

crop. Root crops have not been average crops. Farm stock is
in good condition, better than average. Fall seeding is in fine
condition. Prices for crops raised for market are average. Pota-
toes have been our most profitable crop and corn our least profit-
able one. The season has not been a profitable one for farmers,
as the hay crop was light and corn almost a failure.

worcp:ster county.

Dudley (J. J. Gili;es). — Indian corn is three-fourths of a nor-
mal crop in value. Root crops are up to the usual average. Farm
stock is in good condition. Fall seeding is in good condition.
Prices for crops raised for market are considerably higher than in
former j'ears. Potatoes, and in some instances cabbages, have
been our most profitable crops and corn our least profitable one.
Considered as a whole the season has been a profitable one for our
farmers.

Spencer (H. H. Kingsbury). — The corn crop is about 25 per
cent of the value of a normal one. Root crops of all kinds have
been quite up to the average. Farm stock is in excellent condi-
tion. The weather has been very favorable for fall seediug, which
is in fine shape. Prices for farm produce have ruled higher during
the entire season. Considering the cost of production and the ex-
pense of harvesting hay has been our most profitable crop. Corn
and potatoes are not paying crops this year. The usual farm
operations have not proved as profitable this season as usual.

Neio Braintree (C. D. Sage). — The value of the corn crop is
not over 25 per cent of that of a normal crop. Root crops are
average crops. Farm stock is in good condition. Fall seeding is
in fair condition. The prices for crops raised for market have
been about the same as in former years. Hay has been our most
profitable crop and corn our least profitable one. The season has
been a fairly profitable one, considered as a whole.

Petersham, (S. B. Cook) . — Corn is not over half a crop in value.
Root crops have proved to be average crops. Farm stock is in
good condition. F'all seeding is in good condition. Prices for
crops raised for market have ruled about the same as usual. Hay
has been our most profitable crop and corn and apples our least
profitable ones. Considered as a whole, the season has been fairly
profitable.

FhilUpston (A. D. Clifford). — Corn is not over one-third of
a normal crop in value. Root crops are about average. Farm
stock is looking well. Very little fall seeding is done here. The
prices of market crops have been considerably above the average.
Cabbages and beets have been our most profitable crops and

20

squashes and tomatoes almost failures. The season as a whole
has not been profitable to a majority of the farmers, although
dairj'ing has been fairly profitable.

Princeton (A. O. Tyleu). — Indian corn is about 75 per cent
of a normal crop in value. Root crops are about two-thirds of
the usual average. Farm stock is looking well. Fall seeding is
in good condition. Prices for crops raised for market have been
above the average. Hay has been our most profitable crop and
corn our least profitable one. Considered as a whole, the season
has been about an average one for profit.

Lancaster (S. C. Damon). — There is practically no corn crop.
Root crops have proved to be average crops. Farm stock is in
good condition. Fall seeding is in extra good condition. Prices
for crops raised for market have been higher than usual. Hay
has been our most profitable crop and corn our least profitable one.
Considered as a whole the season has not been a profitable one for
our farmers.

Worcester (H. R. Kinney). — Corn is probably not over half a
crop in value, some pieces fair, others very poor. Root crops are
up to the usual average. Farm stock is fully up to the average in
condition. Fall seeding is in fair condition. Produce has sold
well and prices have been above the average. Hay has been our
most profitable crop and corn our least profitable one. Milk pro-
ducers should have had a good year if they had but little land in
corn. Vegetables and fruits have given, on the whole, unsatisfac-
tory crops, but have sold high. The season has been anything but
a satisfactory one for the average farmer.

Northborough (J. K. Mills). — The value of the corn crop is
65 per cent of that of a normal crop. There will be about an
average crop of roots. Cattle are looking well and will come to
the barns in good condition. Fall seeding is looking extra well.
Prices have been good and for some crops much higher than in
former years. All crops have proved to be profitable, but corn,
potatoes and apples will give the smallest returns. The season
has been a profitable one for our farmers.

Westhorough (B. W. Hero). — The corn crop is about half a
normal crop in value. Root crops are below the average. Farm
stock is in excellent condition. Fall seeding is looking well.
Prices have averaged much higher than usual for crops raised for
market. Hay has been our most profitable crop and corn our
least profitable one. Considering the increased prices received
the season has been an average one for profit.

Upton (B. A. Jourdan). — The corn crop is not over 50 per
cent of a normal crop in value. Root crops are very good ; cab-

21

bages poor. Farm stock is looking well. Fall seeding is in very
good condition. Potatoes and hay have been our most profitable
crops and corn our least profitable one. Prices for crops raised
for market have been very good. The season has not been a
profitable one in this vicinity.

Stitton (C. P. King). — The corn crop is very poor and not as
valuable as in former years. Root crops are about average crops.
Farm stock is nearly all in good condition. Fall seeding is late
and very backward. Crops have brought higher prices when sent
to market than for some years. Hay and cabbages have been our
most profitable crops and corn and potatoes our least profitable
ones. Considered as a whole the season has not been a profitable
one. Frosts have held off very late.

MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

Framingham (J. S. Williams). — The corn crop is not over 75
per cent of a normal crop. Root crops in this section are up to the
average and have sold exceptionally well. Farm stock as a rule is
looking well. The weather conditions have been favorable for fall
seeding and good results are promised. All market crops have
sold readily at much higher prices than usual. Hay has been our
most profitable crop and corn and potatoes have not come up to the
average for profit. On the whole the season must have been a
profitable one for our farmers as prices have been high for garden
truck.

Maynard (L. H. Maynaud). — Indian corn is the poorest crop
for years. Root crops are up to the usual average. Farm stock
is looking well. Fall seeding is looking extra good. Prices for
crops raised for market are about the same as formerly. Potatoes
and all market-garden crops have done unusually well considering
the season. Corn has probably been our least profitable crop.
Considered as a whole, the season has been a profitable one for
our farmers.

Stoio (G. W. Bradley). — Corn is about a one-third crop in
value. Root crops are not as good as usual. Farm stock is in
very good condition. Fall seeding is better tlian for some years.
Prices for crops raised for market will average about the same as
usual. Hay has been our most profitable crop and sweet corn our
least profitable one. Wherever good crops were secured the season
has been a profitable one.

Peiipcrcll (P. J. Kemp). — The value of the corn crop is about
one-third of tliat of a normal crop. Root crops are up to the usual
average. Farm stock is looking finely. The weather conditions
have been very favorable for fall seeding and it has got a good

22

start. The prices received for crops raised for market are about 5
per cent in advance of former years. Hay has been our most
profitable crop and corn our least profitable one. The season has
been a decidedly unprofitable one for farmers, as they have had
little to sell, fruit being a failure, potatoes rotting and no corn
maturing.

Dunstable (A. J. Gilson). — The value of the corn crop is about
half that of a normal crop. Root crops have proved to be above
average crops. Farm stock is generally in good condition. Fall
seeding is in fine condition and growing fast. The prices received
for crops have not varied much from former years. Hay has been
our most profitable crop and corn our least profitable one. Farm
labor has been scarce and high and crops light, so that the season
has not been a profitable one.

Chelmftfo7-d (P. P. Perham). — The corn crop is less than half
an average crop. Root crops have proved to be good average
crops. Farm stock is in good condition. Fall seeding is looking
well. Prices for all crops raised have been above the average.
The apple crop has been our most profitable crop and potatoes our
least profitable one. As a whole the season has been a profitable
one for our farmers.

BlUerica (Geo. P. Greenwood). — The value of the corn crop
is 60 per cent of that of a normal crop. Root crops are up to the
usual average. Farm stock is in good condition. Fall seeding is
in good condition. Prices have ruled higher than usual for crops
raised for market. Cabbages and ruta-bagas have been our most
profitable crops and squashes our least profitable one. Those who
have been fortunate enough to raise crops have sold them well,
but many have raised very little and there has been less to harvest
than for many years.

Wakefield (Chas. Talbot). — The value of the corn crop is not
over 3.T per cent of that of a normal crop. Root crops are hardly
up to the usual average. Farm stock is in very good condition.
Fall seeding is looking well. Prices have ruled about 20 per cent
higher than usual for crops raised for market. All crops are below
the average in yield and potatoes are rotting badly. Considered
as a whole the season has not been a profitable one, all farmers
complaining of falling behind.

Winchester (S. S. Symmes). — There is no field corn raised here.
Root crops are up to the usual average, beets and parsnips excep-
tionally good. Farm stock is in first-class condition. Fall seed-
ing is as good as possible. Prices have been higher than usual for
crops raised for market. Sweet corn has been our most profitable
crop and squashes our least profitable one. The season has been

23

a profitable one and almost ull our farmers have netted more than
for several years. Baldwin apples are poorer in quality and
quantity than for many years.

Weston (H. L. Bkown). — Indian corn is not more than half
a normal crop in value. Root crops are up to the usual average.
Farm stock is in good condition. Early seeding is in good con-
dition. Prices for market-garden crops have mostly been good.
Sweet corn has been as profitable as any crop, and cabbages have
been profitable where a good yield was secured. Corn has been
our least profitable crop, both where planted for grain and for the
silo. The squash crop has been almost a failure, very few ripen-
ing. The season has been profitable for some and unprofitable
for others.

ESSEX COUNTY.

Amesbury (F. W. Sargent). — The value of the corn crop is
less than 2.5 per cent that of a normal crop. Root crops are fair,
but hardly up to the average. An abundance of feed has kept
farm stock in good condition. F'all seeding is in very good con-
dition. Those who have raised produce are getting better prices
than usual. Hay has been our most profitable crop and corn our
least profitable one. The season has been the most unprofitable
and unsatisfactory ever known. Onions generally poor and sweet
corn almost a failure.

Haverhill (Eben Webster). — The corn crop is somewhat less
valuable than usual. Root crops are up to the usual average.
Farm stock is in good condition. Fall seeding is looking well.
Prices for crops raised for market have been higher than usual.
The season has been about an average one for profit, crops being
poor but prices good.

Newbury (G. W. Adams). — Corn is not more than one-fourth
of a normal crop in value. Root crops are very nearly up to the
usual average, but not quite. Farm stock is in very good condi-
tion. Fall seeding is fair to good. With the exception of early
sweet corn and tomatoes prices have been no higher for crops
raised for market. Hay and potatoes have been the most profit-
able crops and onions our least profitable one. A remarkably
poor year combined with a great scarcity of laborers and exces-
sively high wages.

Rowley (D. H. O'Brien). — Corn is about 25 per cent of a
normal crop in value. Root crops have proved to be good crops.
Farm stock is in very good condition. Fall seeding is in good
condition. Prices for crops raised for market have been rather
above the average. Potatoes have been our most profitable crop

24

aud Indian corn our least profitable one. Considered as a whole
the season has been a very poor one for our farmers.

Danvers (C. H. Preston). — Corn is about half an average
crop in value. Root crops are fair in many cases, but not up to
the average. Farm stock is in good condition. Fall seeding is in
good condition. Cabbages aud in some oases sweet corn have
been our most profitable crops and potatoes our least profitable
one. Considered as a whole the season is not up to the average
for profit.

NORFOLK COUNTY.

Stovghton (C. F. Curtis). — The value of the corn crop is only
about half that of a normal crop. Root crops are up to the usual
average. Farm stock is in excellent condition owing to good feed.
Fall seeding is catching well. Prices for crops raised for market
are about 20 per cent higher than usual. Hay has been our most
profitable crop and corn our least profitable one, both for grain
and the silo. 1 consider the season has been a very profitable one,
as high prices offset some poor crops.

Canton (E. V. Kinsley). — The corn crop is about two- thirds
of an average crop in value. Owing to copious rains root crops
are a good average. All farm stock is looking finely. Fall seed-
ing is backward but doing well. Prices have ruled very high.
Cabbages have been our most profitable crop. Sweet corn was
almost a failure and potatoes rotted badly. The season has not
been profitable. Dairy farmers have done well, but the outlook
for winter is discouraging as those having silos report from one-
half to two-thirds the usual yield, which will not be offset by the
possible slight increase in the prices received for milk.

Walpole (E. L. Shepard). — The value of the corn crop is two-
thirds that of a normal crop. Root crops are not up to the usual
average. Farm stock is in good condition. Fall seeding is in fair
condition. Prices for crops raised for market have been higher
than for some years. Potatoes have been our most profitable crop
and corn our least profitable one. The season is not up to the
normal for profit.

Millis (E. F. Richardson). — The corn crop is two-thirds of a
normal crop in value. Root crops have proved to be average
crops. Farm stock is in fine condition. Fall seeding is in good
condition. Prices for crops raised for market have been better
than usual. Grass has been our most profitable crop and corn
and potatoes our least profitable ones. Considered as a whole the
season has been a fair one for profit.

Norfolk (A,. I). Towne). — Indian corn is about 45 per cent of

25

a normal crop in value. Nearly all root crops are up to the usual
average. Farm stock is in good condition. Fall seeding is fully
up to the average. Prices for eggs, milk and vegetables have been
a little higher than usual. Potatoes and hay have been our most
profitable crops. The season has been unfavorable for most farm
crops aad this, with the lack of fruit and the high prices for grain,
has given the farmers rather a poor year.

BRISTOL COUNTY.

Mansfield (Wm. C. Winter). — Indian corn is not over 50 per
cent of a normal crop in value. Root crops have proved to be
average crops. Farm stock is generally in good condition. Not
much fall seeding has been done, but it is generally in good con-
dition. Hay has brought higher prices than usual, other crops
about as usual. Hay and potatoes have been our most profitable
crops and corn and apples our least profitable ones. This being a
dairy section I should say the season had been about an average
one.

Norton (Wm. A. Lane). — Corn is about a third of a normal
crop in value. Root crops are up to the usual average. Farm
stock is in good condition. Fall seeding is looking well. Prices
for crops raised for market have been more than average. Potatoes
have been our most profitable crop and corn our least profitable
one. Considered as a whole the season has been a profitable one
for our farmers.

Seekonk (Fred A. Howe). — Indian corn is not more than a
two-thirds crop in value. Root crops have proved to be average
crops. Farm stock is in good condition. Fall seeding is in good
condition. Prices have advanced 50 per cent over average years
for crops raised for market. Cabbages, sweet corn and tomatoes
have been our most profitable crops Uud potatoes and melons our
least profitable ones. Considered as a whole the season has been
a profitable one.

Dartmouth (L. T. Davis). — Corn is not over a one-fourth crop
for grain, but the stover is about normal. Root crops will be about
average. Farm stock is in very good condition. Fall seeding
came up very well, but does not grow as fast as some years.
Prices for crops raised for market have been rather above the
average for some kinds. Hay has been our most profitable crop
and it is hard to say which crop has been least profitable, all have
been so variable. As a whole the farmer has not much more than
got a new dollar for an old one.

Aaishnet (M. S. Douglas) . — The corn crop was almost a failure
and its value is a third below that of a normal crop. Root crops

26

are up to the usual average. Farm stock is in good condition.
Fall seeding is in good condition. Prices for crops raised for
market have been rather higher than usual. Hay has been our
most profitable crop and corn our least profitable one. Taken as
a whole the season has been a fairly profitable one.

PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

Norioell (H, A. Turner). — Corn is about one-third of the usual
crop in value. Root crops are up to the usual average. Farm
stock is in good condition. Fall seeding is generally looking well.
Prices have been good for most crops. Hay and potatoes have
been our most profitable crops and beans and tomatoes our least
profitable ones. Considered as a whole the season has been fairly
profitable.

Halifax (G. W. Hayward). — Indian corn is of no value ex-
cept for stover. Root crops have proved to be average crops.
Farm stock is in excellent condition. Fall seeding looks finely
where put in early enough. Prices for crops raised for market
have ruled fully as high as in former years. Hay has been our
most profitable crop and corn our least profitable one. The season
has been a profitable one for the farmers of this town.

Duxbicry (R. T. Randall). — Corn is a poor crop. Root crops
are not up to the usual average. Farm stock is in good condition.
Fall seeding is good but late. Prices for crops raised for market
have been about the same as last year. Hay has been our most
profitable crop and corn our least profitable one. Turnips and
cabbages are good crops, less planted than some years. Apples
and grapes gave poor yields. As a whole the season has been
unprofitable.

Kingston (G. L. Churchill). — The value of the corn crop is
not more than one-third that'of a normal crop. Root crops have
proved to be average crops. Farm stock is in very good condition.
Fall seeding is in very fair condition. Prices for crops raised for
the market are fully up to the standard. Potatoes have been oar
most profitable crop and corn our least profitable one. I think,
taking everything into consideration, the year has been a profit-
able one.

Lakeville (N. G. Staples). — The corn crop is within 10 per
cent of a normal crop in value. Root crops have proved to be
average crops. Farm stock is in good condition. Fall seeding
is in good condition. Prices for crops raised for market have
been about the same as in former years. Potatoes have been our
most profitable crop and corn our least profitable one. Considered
as a whole the season has been a profitable one for our farmers.

27

BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

Bourne (D. D. Nye). — Indian corn is about a normal crop in
value. Root crops are above the average in condition and promise.
Farm stock is in very good condition. Fall seeding is in very good
condition. Prices for crops raised for market have been better than
last year. Corn has been our most profitable crop and onions our
least profitable one. Taking crops altogether there has been a
profit on the season, better than was expected.

Mashjyee (W. F. Hammond). — There will be one-third of a
normal crop of corn. Root crops are about average crops. Farm
stock is looking well. All crops have brought about average
prices. Potatoes have been our most profitable crop and corn our
least profitable one. Considered as a whole the season has been
profitable, for while some crops fell short prices ranged so much
above the average that our farmers have made a small profit.

Brewster (T. D. Sears). — The value of the corn crop is below
that of the normal year. The root crop is above the average of
the past few years. Farm stock is in very good condition. Fall
seeding is looking well owing to rain and warm weather. The
prices received for farm crops are above those of the last two or
three years. Cranberries have been our most profitable crop and
apples and pears our least profitable ones. Taken as a whole the
past season has not been a profitable one for our farmers.

Orleans (F. E. Snow). — Indian corn is a fairly good crop.
Root crops are up to the usual average. Farm stock is not in the
best of condition on account of short pastures. Fall seeding is in
good condition. Good prices have generally been received for
crops raised for market. Cranberries and asparagus have been
our most profitable crops and fodder crops our least profitable
ones. Considered as a whole the season has been a fairly pro-
fitable one.

Truro (D. E. Paine). — No Indian corn is raised here. Root
crops are up to the usual average. Farm stock is in fair condi-
tion. Very little fall seeding has been done. Prices received for
crops raised for market have been fair. Potatoes have been our
most profitable crop. Considered as a whole the season has been
a profitable one for our farmers.

28

BULLETIN OF
MASSACHUSETTS BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

THE PREVENTION OF FUNGOUS DISEASES PECULIAR TO
GREENHOUSE PLANTS.

By Dr. George E. Stone, Professor of Botany, Massachusetts Agricultural

College.

The diseases to which plants are subject uuder glass require
different methods of prevention than those in common use out of
doors, since in greenhouses the crop conditions are largely under
control, whereas in outdoor crops they are left to the mercy of the
weather and the whims of the season. To meet the unforeseen
seasonal conditions to which outdoor crops are subject it is neces-
sary to resort to methods of prevention each year. Such methods
consist of spraying crops, or applying other treatments before cer-
tain pests have made their appearance. There is, however, very
little need of the application of spraying mixtures to greenhouse
plants, since the conditions which give rise to diseases can be and
are controlled by expert gardeners to a very large extent. The
recommendations, therefore, for a general system of spraying for
indoor crops, such as is expedient at the present time for outdoor
crops, would be irrational, and would constitute a step in the wrong
direction. Every skilled and intelligent grower realizes this, and
the more skilled a gardener is, the fewer diseases he has to con-
tend with. The gardener who can turn out a nearly perfect crop
as regularly as a manufacturing establishment turns out its products
is qualified for the severest tests of proficiency.

The inci'eased production of high-grade greenhouse products in
Massachusetts has been the means of training and developing a
large class of men as efficient growers, and with this increased
skill and knowledge there has come about a better understanding
of the causes of diseases and methods of controlling them. The

29

greater part of our knowledge concerning the control of green-
bouse diseases has been derived from the intelligence and skill of
the progressive gardeners, whereas, in a case of outdoor crops, the
experiment stations have been foremost in offering suggestions for
their control. The trained agriculturists _ can consistently give
information in regard to the control of specific diseases affecting
outdoor crops, with which he is more or less familiar, but in cases
of greenhouse crops the methods of treatment are so different, and
require such an insight into the plant requirements, that it is almost
necessary for one to be an expert grower, or, at any rate, under-
stand something about the normal conditions of the crop, before
his judgment or advise is worth much. It is necessary, at least,
that he should possess a thorough understanding of the influence
on plants of the three cardinal factors, heat, light and moisture,
and the role they play in the production of normal crops, together
with their relationship to the development of disease-producing
organisms. Such matters as soil texture and soil fertility also
constitute important features which are necessary to understand.
The great attention necessary to give to such matters as heat,
moisture and light in greenhouse culture is only appreciated by the
trained gardener. Some of the most troublesome and disastrous
diseases are entirely controlled by the intelligent use of these
factors, and others, which are more or less common, could no
doubt be controlled or greatly alleviated if modifications in the
method of growing certain crops were practicable.

The benefits which have resulted from spraying out-of-door
crops have unfortunately been the means of inducing some to
believe that spraying is the only method of treating plant diseases,
and where spraying is not recommended as a remedy their enthu-
siasm diminishes. We have grown for some years many experi-
mental crops in the greenhouse, and we have seldom had occasion
to see the need, or possible benefit, to be derived from spraying.
In the elimination of diseases from greenhouse crops, the ultimate
aim should be to select varieties of plants which are immune to
disease, as well as to study and devise conditions which will not
favor the development of fungi. The most perfect and the hardi-
est plant organism can become diseased in a remarkably short
period of time if the conditions that are suitable for its normal
requii'ements are changed. For example, the geranium constitutes
one of our most hardy greenhouse plants, nevertheless, if such a
rugged plant is placed under a bell glass, it becomes sickly in a
very short time, and in a few days it will succumb to disease, even
when subject to light and supplied with all of the necessary ele-

30

ments of plant food. Such an experiment is interesting as show-
ing how quickly the healthiest organism can fall a prey to disease
and become dilapidated.

The explanation of the appearance of some of our most trouble-
some diseases affecting plants at the present time can be found in
part in the practice of increased forcing, and is also due to the fact
that new parasitic organisms have been introduced from time to
time from other countries through traffic. Some of these fungi,
however, which have recently proven disastrous, have been with us
for some years, if not always, and the reason of their becoming
more troublesome at the present time can be attributed to the
increased production of more succulent, tender plants, brought
about by forcing, which enables these parasites to find more favor-
able conditions in which to thrive. AVith every modification aud
innovation in the growing of plants, there is likely to occur new
difficulties and obstacles to overcome.

Constitutional weaknesses which develop in some varieties and
are inherited in others are unfavorable to immunity. Varieties
of carnations inclined to succulency, or containing two or three
per cent more water contents in their leaves, have proven much
more susceptible to rust than those containing less water.

There is little doubt but that many diseases could be prevented
by modifications in the methods of growing plants, if such could
be adopted. The so-called "drop" in lettuce would prove less
disastrous if the plants could be elevated from the soil sufficiently
to allow air aud light to penetrate to the stem. This would result
in producing firmer and more resistant tissues.

Experiments have shown that a covering of coarse sand about
lettuce plants materially reduced rots, simply from the fact that
sand retains moisture much less readily than loam, thus offering
less favorable opportunities for fungous infection, and no doubt a
circulation of air about the stems would prove beneficial. In the
same manner, subirrigation reduces stem rots by maintaining a
smaller amount of moisture in the top layers of soil. The shutting
out of light and air by planting too thickly constitutes a source of
danger to disease. Water cress and parsley offer good examples
of the effects of overcrowding, due to luxuriant growth. When
these crops are allowed to grow high and become thick they pro-
duce weak stems, and become affected with the same fungus that
produces "drop" in lettuce, whereas when closely cropped there
is little loss from this disease. The exclusion of light and air
necessarily arising from overcrowding are responsible for this. In
most instances the stem rots of the chrysanthemums have been

induced by overcrowdiug, and undoubtedly the carnation would
suffer less if more light and air could reach the stems.

Various stem rots could undoubtedly be eliminated, to a large
extent, by changing the soil conditions about the plants, such as
by the application of coarse sand around the stems. In one case
the stem rot in the parsley was greatly reduced by setting the plants
well up above the soil, thus exposing the stem and crown to light
and air, which resulted in the development of more resistant tissues.
The matter of moisture on the foliage plays an important part in
infection. The carnation rust has been largely reduced by sub-
irrigation methods and also by applying water absorbents, such as
lime, to the foliage. In short, many fungous diseases peculiar to
foliage can be much lessened and in many instances prevented by
regulating the moisture conditions of the air. If it were possible
to control the moisture conditions out of doors the same would hold
true there. For example, a cold, wet spring induces peach leaf
curl, while a dry, warm spring is not favorable to the development
of the fungus which causes curl, and many other cases might be
cited where infection is due to weather conditions which cannot be
controlled ; whereas, in under-glass culture there is little difficulty
in controlling these conditions, and preventing such diseases. The
application of the moisture absorbent to asparagus plants has in
some instances very perceptibly reduced the rust, and even the
cover of an apple tree is often sufficient to keep the dew off, and
render the plants free from infection. With this idea in mind,
tent cloth crops have been tried with some degree of encourage-
ment, although the expense of tent covers, and the results obtained
from the same, do not at present appear to be such as to warrant
their use except in special cases. Another element which has a
great bearing on the health of plants, in general, is proper feeding.
The influence which proper feeding and cultivation has on the
susceptibility of crops to disease is quite marked. There is little
doubt but that in many cases time and money could be better spent
in securing robust crops by cultivation and feeding than in spraying
sickly ones.

Tomatoes.
Blight or Mildew {Cladoxporium fulvum^ Cke.) .

This mildew grows on both outdoor and greenhouse tomatoes.
Infected plants show, on the under surface of the leaves, a velvety
brownish-colored downy mass. The upper surface of the leaves
turn yellowish and the edges become curled. It propagates quickly
and freely by spores. The method of preventing mildew in the

32

greenhouse is to keep down the moisture in the air, and give the
plants sufficient light and ventilation, Massey, in the North Car-
olina Station^Bulletiu No, 170, states that sprajnng with a weak
solution of potassium sulphide, and dusting the pipes with a wash
of sulphur and lime, completely prevented mildew. The latter
treatment, however, is probably the most effectual. For out-of-
door plants the best treatment would consist in spraying with some
standard fungicide.

Eel Worms or Nematodes [Heterodera radicicolo., (Greef ) Mull.).

Greenhouse tomatoes, like many other plants, are frequently

troubled with root galls caused b}' eel worms or nematodes (see

Fig. 1). These worms affect some plants much worse than

others. The tomato, however,
does not show the effect of gall-
infested roots as much as the
cucumber and muskmelon, the
latter plant being especially sus-
ceptible to them. The remedy
.for eel worms consists in soil
desiccation, or either freezing or
sterilizing. The latter method of
treatment is the most effectual,
and where conveniences are at
hand for doing this work it is fully
as cheap. Whatever treatment
is employed care should be taken
to treat the manure, as our experi-
ments have shown that the manure
pile constitutes one of the greatest

Fig. — 1. Galls on tomato roots caused by sourceS of infection f Or eel WOmiS.
eel worms. rni • • /• i ■ j.

This species of eel worm is not
indigenous to our climate, and probably very rarely survives in
our soil over winter. It does, however, winter successfully in
unfrozen manure heaps.

Frvit Rots.
Under this head are included troubles caused by a number of
organisms possessing different characters, such as bacteria and
fungi, which cause a rotting of the fruit (see Fig. 2.) Fruit rots
are common to both greenhouse and outdoor tomatoes, and the
general practice has been to spray tomato crops when grown out
of doors. The results from spraying experiments are not, how-

33

Fig. 2. — Tomato rot.

ever, entirely satisfactory iu all cases, partly, no doubt, from the

fact that a number of clift'erent organisms have been involved iu

fruit rots, some of which would appear

to be more difficult to control than others.

For greenhouse culture we recommend,

as a partial means of prevention, the

keeping of moisture from the fruit or

foliage as much as possible, for in our

experiments we have found 33 per cent

less fruit rot where we did not practice

syringing the plants than where we did syringe.

There are other troublesome diseases of the tomato, apparently
more common in the south than in the noi'th. Among these may
be mentioned leaf blights (Septoria, Alternaria) , tomato wilts
{Fusarium Bacilhis), etc. There is also a functional disorder
occasionally met with in greenhouse tomatoes, known as (Edema
or dropsy. This gives rise to a curling and rupturing of the cells
of the leaf. (Edema is caused by excessive absorption of water
from the soil, brought about by too high soil temperatures. The
peculiar crinkling, curling and high coloration of tomato leaves,
common to greenhouse culture, especially when grown iu a rich
soil and when severe pruning has been practised, must not be con-
founded with the dropsy. The latter peculiarity is a form of in-
digestion, and the same peculiar curling of leaves may be observed
on 3'oung stump shoots of forest trees which have been cut. Un-
pruned tomato plants, grown under exactly similar conditions,
seldom, if ever, exhibit these peculiar symptoms.

Cucumbers.
The diseases affecting greenhouse cucumbers are referred to
more extensively in Bulletin No. 87, issued by the Hatch Experi-
<nent Station.

Dotvny Mildetv (Plasmopara Cubensis, (B. & C.) Humphrey).
This mildew can be readily distin-
guished by the typical yellowish, angu-
lar spots on the leaves (see Fig. 3).
It is likely to occur on greenhouse
crops from August to November or
December. If crops, however, are
set in the house as late as October,
they are apt to remain free from ' """^^^
mildew during the rest of the year. ^^i'l- a --*-

Keeping the moisture down in the Fig 3.- Cucumber downy mildew,
, , ., . , ., . -1 showiug the characteristic angular

house, together with ventuation and gpotg.

34

light, is the best prevention of mildew. We have kept this
mildew entirely in check on more than one occasion by simply
keeping the moisture down in the house and supplying the plants
with sufficient light and air. Since mildew infection comes largely
during the summer, one of the best ways to obviate it is to not set
the plants until about October. The mildew can also be prevented
by spraying with Bordeaux, as has been shown by experiments.
In short, this is the only remedy that can be applied to outdoor
crops of cucumbers.

Anthracnose (Colletotrichum Lagenarmm, (Pass.) Ell. &Hals.).
This fungous disease causes a great deal of trouble to outdoor
crops of melons and cucumbers (see Fig. 4). It has become well-
nigh impossible during the past two or
three years to grow melons out of doors.
From our numerous correspondence
with farmers each year relating to this
disease it would appear that it made
little difference whether one sprayed or
did not spray. The result has always
been the same, namely, the plants
would blight and most of the crop
would be lost. Anthracnose occa-
FiG. 4.— Cucumber leaf affected with sioually attacks greenhousc crops dur-
anthracnose. jjjg ^j^g spring and summcr, although

our experience in handling cucurbitaceous crops under glass, during
every month in the year, without a trace of infection, has led us to
believe that the same conditions are necessary for the prevention
of Anthracnose as for the prevention of mildew, namely, absence
of extreme moisture conditions in the house.

Timber Rot.
Timber rot is caused by the same fungus that produces lettuce
drop. On the cucumber it causes canker-like growtlis on the stem,
such growths being associated with black pustules about one-

Fio. 5. — Timber rot, cucumber.

sixteenth or one-eighth inch in diameter (see Fig. 5). It does
not cause excessive damage to cucumbers, as a rule, and the fungus

35

can be entirely eliminated by applying the same methods as described
under drop of lettuce.

Eel Worms.

These are very likely to infect cucumber roots, and if very
abundant they greatly injure the crop. Many of our greenhouse
growers have been more or less troubled with them for some years.
For remedy see "Tomatoes." Cucumbers are occasionally subject
to other fungous diseases. The most important ones, however,
have been touched upon.

Lettuce.

There are various diseases common to greenhouse lettuce which
have been described in Bulletin No. 69, issued by the Hatch Ex-
periment Station, Amherst, Mass.

Drop (Sderotinia Libertiana, Fckl.).
This constitutes the most destructive disease of lettuce, and is
characterized by the plants wilting and dropping into an insignifi-

FiG. 6. — A typical normal lettuce
head.

Fig. 7. — Lettuce plant affected with
drop caused by the fungus Sclerotinia
Libertiana.

cant mass (see Figs. 6 and 7) . This troublesome disease is caused
by a sporeless soil fungus, which attacks the stem of the plant,
and the only efifectiial remedy is found in soil sterilization.

Rhizoctonia.
This is the generic name of the fungus which causes a rotting
of the lower leaves of lettuce plants, and occasionally works in
the stem and head, much to the detriment of the crop. The fungus
is a sterile or sporeless type of soil organism, and the same remedy
is applicable to this as to the preceding trouble.

Doivny Mildew (Bremia Latucoi, Kegel.).
A whitish, downy, mildew growth frequently grows on the lower
leaves of young lettuce plants, and on the exterior leaves of the
mature head. It seldom attacks the normal healthy portions of the

36

plaut, and does not appear to cause a great deal of damage to
lettuce crops, consequently little complaint is made in regard to it.
We have found that this mildew appears to be incapable of living
over the summer season in a house which is empty for a time, and
becomes more or less dry. The spores, or couidia, of this fungus
are apparently of very little duration. It is seldom that the fungus
is troublesome enouo;h to call for remedial measures.

Fig. 8. — Top burn of lettuce, char-

Top Burn, or Tip Burn.
The above trouble is not caused by any organism, but is due to
a lack of proper conditions in the lettuce house. Top burn is

merely a wilting of the young, tender
leaf extremities, which causes them to
dry up and turn brown or black. This
greatly disfigures it, and injures to a
considerable extent the sale of the
/^ -:^S^3BS^^^ys=«'^^^^^ produce (see Fig. 8). Amateurs and
^v_ ^^^^^^s?^ ^Y inexperienced growers are very likely

to have top burn. It gives little or no
concern however, to expert handlers
of lettuce crops. The whole matter is

acterized by a browning or blackening OUC dependent UpOU the absorptlOU and
of the edges of the leaves in the head, ^j^^j^^ ^^ ^j^^ ^^^^^, ^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^_

gether with the conditions which govern the formation of the texture
of lettuce, namely, heat, light, etc. To obviate top burn, care
must be taken not to allow high day temperatures during, or directly
after cloudy days, and low night temperatures should be maintained
during cloudy weather. Skilled lettuce growers know the texture
of their plants, and what treatment they are capable of standing.
The temperature conditions are governed entirely by what they
think the plant is capable of enduring. Where a rapid growth of
lettuce takes place, in consequence of anj^ form of stimulation,
care should be taken to govern temperature conditions, especially
those of night temperature. Lettuce plants, like all others, make
most of their growth during the night, and the character or texture
of that growth is dependent to a large extent upon temperature.
High night temperature will cause rapid growth and a delicate
texture, and lower temperature will give rise to less growth with a
firmer texture.

Chrysanthemums.

Poiodery Mildeic (Erysiphe Cichoracearum, DC).
Mildew frequently shows itself to a slight extent on the leaves
of chrysanthemums. It is of little consequence, however, to the

37

careful grower. The mildew is similar to that found ou the roses,
and can be held in check by the same means.

Rust (Pucci)iia Chrysanthemi, Roze).

The first appearance of the chrysanthemum rust in America
occurred in this State during the year 1896, since which time it
has spread nearly over the whole United States. The first two or
three years of the outbreak proved the worst, and at present little
is heard about it in this section, especially from our largest and
best growers. Its disappearance appears to be due to two causes,
namely, the discovery and application of cultural methods which
render rust infection less common, and the limitation of the rust
to a single stage (uredo) of existence. Professor Arthur of the
Indiana station believes that the latter factor is largely responsible
for its decline. That cultural methods have also had a great deal
to do with its disappearance is evident from the fact that our most
skilful gardeners have never had it but one or two years, while less
skilful and less painstaking growers have been more or less subject
to it every year. Inside culture of the chrysanthemum appears to
render it free from rust. It is essential always to select healthy
stock to start with, and care should be taken to keep all unneces-
sary water off the foliage in cultivating in the greenhouse. If
rust appears on a few leaves they should be picked and destroyed
immediately, and badly infested plants should be removed and
burned.

Stem Rot.

More or less trouble with a stem rot caused by the fungus
Fusarium has been experienced by chrysanthemum growers since
1900. This fungus attacks the stem and clogs up the tissues,
thus shutting off the water and food supply, and causing the lower
leaves to fade, wither and die. The disease occurs most com-
monly as the result of conditions favorable to damping off.
Those plants grown in the centre of the bed, more remote from
light, etc., are the worst affected. Cultural precautions which
will obviate damping-off conditions, such as less crowding, etc.,
are at present the only recommendations that can be given as con-
stituting a preventive.

Roses.

The cultivation of roses is carried on quite extensively in this
State. The unsurpassed skill that is given to the production of
this crop has resulted in reducing diseases to a minimum. Some
of these establishments turn out superior produce year after year

38

as regularly and as perfectly as any manufacturing establishment
turns out its wares. The most important diseases of the rose are
as follows : —

Powdery Mildeio (^SplKerotheca pannosa^ (Wallr.) Lev.).
This occurs as a white powdery mass on the upper surface of
the leaves, causing them to curl and become distorted. The most
skilled growers, however, succeed, as a rule, in handling the con-
ditions of the house so intelligently that the mildew is prevented.
In case it becomes troublesome through lack of uncontrollable con-
ditions, the standard remedy to apply, and one which is very
effectual, consists in evaporating sulphur over a lamp. A more
practical, as well as a more efficient method of applying sulphur,
is to repeatedly paint the pipes with a mixture of sulphur and oil.

Black Spot (Actinonema Bosce, (Lib.) Fr.).

Black spot occurs on
tlie leaves, causing them
to turn more or less yel-
low and resulting in their
falling off (see Fig. 9).
Certain spraying mixtures
have been recommended
for black spot, but the
most satisfactory method
of treatment is to keep
the leaves picked oft" and

Fig 9. —Black spot of rose.

avoid a close atmosphere at night and on wet, dull days.

Bronzing of Hoses.
Rose leaves frequently become spotted and turn yellow and
drop off without being affected with the black spot fungus. This
happens to those leaves near where the stem has been cut, and is a
purel}' functional disorder due, apparently, to the starvation of
that particular leaf. It resembles somewhat the black spot, and
is termed " bronzing." In all probability it is a correlated growth
phenomenon resulting from pruning.

Eel Worms.
Rose growers are sometimes troubled with eel worms, and in
same instances large losses have resulted (see Fig. 10). In one
instance, to our knowledge, a rose establishment which had pro-

39

cluced $17,000 of roses annuall}' reduced its output, for a few
years, to about $2,000 or $3,000, due to the disastrous results of

Fig. 10. — Root gall of rose.

eel worms. Other instances could be cited where rose growers
have been almost forced out of business by the pests. In some
establishments, where unusual care has been taken, the houses
have never become infested with these worms. For remedies con-
sult " Tomatoes," etc.

Carnations.
Mt'st (^Uromyces caryophyUinus^ (Schrank) Schrt.).
This fungous parasite, which is familiar to ever}' one who grows
carnations, is not dreaded so much as when it first made its appear-
ance some years ago. It is decidedly less prevalent at the present
time, hy reason, perhaps, of less susceptible varieties being grown,
and also because carnation growers have become more familiar
with the conditions which succeed in reducing the rust. The
practice of subirrigation and liming the foliage, together with
attention to moisture conditions, have been responsible for a
diminishing number of rusty plants. Spraying experiments have
never proven satisfactory for the carnation rust, and the best and
most rational remedies, here as elsewhere, consist in paying atten-
tion to cultural conditions.

Stem Rots (Fusarium Rhizoctonia).
There are at least two distinct types of stem rot caused by the
above-mentioned fungi. These rots constitute perhaps the worst
features which carnation growers have to contend with at the
present time. The rot caused by the sterile Rhizoctonia can be
controlled by sterilizing the soil, and that caused by Fusarium, in
all probability, cannot be contrplled by this method. Neither can

40

we expect to control by sterilization any fungus, which is freely
propagated by spores. There are probably cultural methods that
can be applied in the greenhouse which will alleviate the troubles
caused by Fusarium, and experiments are now being conducted
by us with that end in view. Undoubtedly, starting the plants in
uninfested soil and cultivating on new land where Fusarium is
likely to be less common will aid to overcome the rot to a large
extent.

Among other diseases of the carnation which are more or less
common is the Stigmonose^ or Bacteriosis, as it has been oalled,
which is believed to be due to insect stings, causing a small
purplish spot on the leaves. There are also the Anthracnose,
fairy ring, leaf spot, etc., which are more or less prevalent.

Violets.
Leaf Spot {Alternaria Vioke, Dorsett).
More than one fungus was formerly believed to be the cause
of the violet leaf spot (see Fig. 11.) More recent investigations,

3#

Fig. 11. — Violet leaf spot.

however, would seem to indicate that most of these spots are
caused by the above-named fungus. The application of fungicides
have proven of little or no value as preventives, and the best
authorities recommend strict adherence to the most careful cul-
tural conditions, together with the selection of the strongest and
healthiest plants for crop purposes.

Eel Wonns.
These are very troublesome to violets because of minute galls
on the roots, which are readily overlooked, and the same method
of extermination holds here as elsewhere (see "Tomatoes").
Care must be taken, however, not to start the plants in soil in-
fested with eel worms.

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