another year. Consequently, on the opening of the past season, arrangements were made for the continuation of said work, and it was decided to enlarge its scope and usefulness by increasing the size of the bulletins to twenty-four pages; by giving more attention to the weather, for which purpose a synopsis of the monthly reports of the Meteorological Observatory of the Hatch Experiment Station at Amherst were to be added; by making the notes of correspondents fuller; and by devoting the last three or four pages of each bulletin to extracts upon various agricultural subjects. After the first two bulletins, it was found necessary to increase the size of the edition to twelve hundred copies. The following synopses will illustrate the character of the work:

Synopsis of Bulletin No. 1. - Crop Report for May.

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The first half of the month was warm and dry. Rain set in on the morning of the 20th, and fell almost every day during the remainder of the month. Slight frosts were reported as occurring on the mornings of the 27th, 28th, and 29th, but scarcely any damage was done. In the circular sent to correspondents about the 20th of the month, the following questions were asked : "1. How much earlier is this season than the last? 2. What insects are doing the most damage in your vicinity? 3. Is good help plenty, and at what cost? 4. What is the outlook in your section?" About one hundred returns were received, showing that the season opened favorably for the farmer, and that it averaged two weeks earlier than last, although the cold wet weather the last of the month tended to overcome the unusual earliness of the season. The tent-caterpillar (Clisiocampa Americana) was reported as being unusually prevalent in many sections, and a short sketch from Mrs. Mary Treat's work on Injurious Insects of the Farm and Garden" was printed, to describe its work and to suggest methods of extermination. The cranberry-vine worms, cut worms, Colorado potato beetles, squash bugs, cabbage maggots, currant worms, canker worms, onion maggots, asparagus beetles and curculios were also reported as doing more or less damage in localities where they would naturally be found. Good farm help appeared to be rather scarce in many localities, and commanded, on an average, from twenty to twenty-two dollars per month and board. The general outlook was reported as good. There was promise of a large hay crop, although dry weather the fore part of the month checked the growth of grass in some places. However, this dry weather was very favorable for planting, and seeds came up well. Wet, cold weather the last of the month, while it greatly helped grass, had a bad effect on corn.

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In this report was included an article upon "Agriculture in Massachusetts," by H. G. Wadlin, chief of the Bureau of Statistics of Labor.

Synopsis of Bulletin No. 2.- Crop Report for June.

In the circular sent to our correspondents about the 20th of the month, the following questions were asked: "1. What insects are doing the most damage in your vicinity? 2. What date did haying commence in your vicinity? 3. Is the hay crop up to last year's crop in quantity and quality? 4. Is the outlook as favorable as it was June 1? 5. What is the prospect for an apple crop?" About ninety-five returns were received, indicating that about the same insects as were reported last month were still at work. To that list might also be added rose bugs and the "spittle insects on grass. Haying commenced, on an average, about June 20; but, owing to unfavorable weather, the work of securing it was not pushed as rapidly as the condition of the grass would warrant. In some sections haying commenced as early as the first week in June, while in others, especially on the western hills, it did not commence much before July 1. About one-fourth of the crop had been secured by the close of the month, and it averaged well with last year's crop. In quantity it was rather more, but in quality rather below, owing to so much wet, cloudy weather. a whole, the outlook was as favorable as it was June 1. The apple crop promised to be below an average. In some sections it was the off year, and in such the crop would be very small. Many trees set full, but the young apples dropped off badly. The strawberry crop was below an average, both in quantity and quality. Corn, though backward on account of the wet weather, pushed rapidly ahead during the last week. Potatoes promised well. There was some complaint of blast on the vines; but, on the whole, a good crop might be expected. In general, all crops were growing finely, and promised good harvests.

In this report was included a letter by John G. Whittier to the Essex Agricultural Society.

Synopsis of Bulletin No. 3.-Crop Report for July.

The month of July was marked by frequent rains and much cloudy weather. A severe thunder storm, accompanied by hail, passed over the eastern portion of the State on the afternoon of the 17th, doing much damage to crops. On the 23d another heavy thunder shower passed over Essex County, also doing much damage to crops. In Boston, with two exceptions, it was the wettest July for nineteen years, and, with three exceptions, the coolest July for

the same length of time. In the circular sent to correspondents about the 20th of the month, the following questions were asked: "1. What is the outlook for a corn crop? 2. Have small fruits been satisfactory in yield and price? 3. Have you observed any rot or scab in potatoes? 4. Has the hay crop met your expectations in quantity and quality? 5. What is the prospect for a crop of early market apples?" About ninety-five returns were received, from which we learned that the outlook for a corn crop was generally good. Owing to so much rain, it was late; but warm, pleasant weather would insure a good crop. Small fruits were generally satisfactory in price, but not in yield. The hay crop met expectations in quantity, but not in quality. During the month there were very few good hay days, and much hay was damaged. At the close of the month considerable grass remained to be cut. Where grass was cut early, a large crop of rowen was promised. Continuous rains caused streams to swell, and low lands were so flooded in many sections as to render the gathering of hay from them almost an impossibility. Potato vines blasted badly in many sections; rot and scab followed the blast; and it was predicted that in all probability the potato crop would be much below an average in quantity and quality. Many fields were already badly injured. The prospect for a crop of early market apples was only fair at best, and in many sections the yield promised to be slight. The excess of rain caused weeds to make a heavy growth, and made the cultivation of crops difficult and costly. Oats rusted badly.

In this report was included a paper upon "The Law of Trespass, and how it affects the Farmer," by B. W. Potter, Esq., of Worcester.

Synopsis of Bulletin No. 4.- Crop Report for August.

The first half of the month was marked by cloudy, muggy weather, with occasional light rains. The last half was warm and dry. This warm, dry weather, following so long a period of wet weather, caused vegetation of all kinds to mature rapidly, and everything to put on a fall-like appearance. The rainfall for the month was rather below the average. There was a slight frost at Chester on the 29th, and at Templeton, on low land not protected by fog, on the 28th and 29th. In the circular sent to correspondents about the 20th of the month, the following questions were asked: "1. What is the prospect for winter apples in quantity and quality? 2. Is the acreage of meadow land reseeded in the fall increasing in your locality? 3. What is the prospect for late potatoes, and have you observed rot or scab? 4. Is the amount

of corn grown for ensilage purposes increasing in your locality?" About ninety returns were received, from which we learned that there would be about half a crop of winter apples, of rather poor quality. On the whole, the acreage of meadow land reseeded in the fall was reported as increasing. The wet weather of July and the early part of this month caused potato vines to blast badly. Rot quickly followed, and it was predicted that there would not be over half a crop of potatoes. Those that were nearly ripe when the blast struck them were good, and rotted but little. Those planted late and only about half matured when the blast came were almost a total failure. Many fields were not worth digging. The warm, dry weather of the last two weeks had a tendency to keep the rot from spreading. Scab has also been prevalent this season. The amount of corn grown for ensilage purposes appeared to be increasing in most localities. The Southern white variety seemed to be the one most generally preferred. Celery rusted badly in some sections. The corn crop promised to be a good one. In some sections blight had struck the corn fields, and some of them were reported as almost worthless. Corn cutting had commenced, although most of the crop needed fully a week of warm, dry weather. The tobacco crop was in general a very good one, and was harvested in excellent condition; some damage was done to the crop by rust and fleas. On land where the first crop of grass was taken off early, the rowen crop was very large, and at the close of the month much of it had been secured in excellent shape. Pastures held out well. Fruits of all kinds were inferior both in quantity and quality.

In this report was included an extract from an address before the Housatonic Agricultural Society, by Rev. F. H. Rowley of North Adams.

Synopsis of Bulletin No. 5.- Crop Report for September.

The weather was quite generally damp and cloudy, with frequent light rains. The rainfall for the month was slightly below the average. The first week was unusually warm, while the temperature for the remainder of the month was about normal. Slight frosts occurred during the last ten days of the month, in various parts of the State, but scarcely any damage was done to crops. In some sections, high winds, the 10th and 11th, blew off considerable fruit. In the circular sent to correspondents about the 20th of the month, the following questions were asked: "1. Estimated number of baskets of peaches grown in your vicinity this season; average price per basket? 2. What is the outlook for success in the future cultivation of the peach in your locality?

3. How have the peculiarities of the season affected dairy products in quantity and price? 4. Are farmers in your vicinity generally interested in agricultural fairs?" About eighty-five returns were received, reporting a total estimate of twenty-five hundred baskets as the peach crop this season, and $1.85 as the average price per basket. It is evident that the total yield must have been considerably larger. From these returns we also learned that, while many towns produced a few peaches, very few farmers gave much attention to the growing of this fruit. Most of our correspondents report that the outlook for success in the future cultivation of the peach is not very encouraging. The peculiarities of the season caused, in some localities, an increase in the quantity of dairy products, while prices remained about an average. The excess of moisture and cloudy weather produced an inferior quality of feed, and this was followed by loss of quality in dairy products. The farmers of the State, as a whole, are undoubtedly interested in agricultural fairs, and receive direct benefit from them. The rowen crop was unusually large, but, owing to unfavorable weather, much of it was spoiled in trying to secure it. The average yield was about one ton per acre. The onion crop was below the average, both in quantity and quality. The cranberry crop was about three-fourths of an average. Late potatoes were about half a crop, with quality about three-fourths of an average. The crop of winter apples was somewhat less than half a crop, of about three-fourths of an average quality. By the close of the month corn had been cut and husking had commenced in some sections.

In this report was included an extract from an address before the Essex Agricultural Society, by Hon. H. G. Herrick of Lawrence.

Synopsis of Bulletin No. 6.—Crop Report for October. The weather during the month was very much like that of the preceding months. There was less bright sunshine than usual. The rainfall was above the average. At Milton the mean temperature was nearly two degrees below the forty years' average. Snow fell in Monroe on the 8th, 11th and 13th. There were no severe gales. In the circular sent to correspondents about the 20th of the month, the following questions were asked: "1. Is this year's crop of Indian corn an average one? 2. Are root crops up to the average in quantity and quality? 3. On the whole, has this season been a profitable one for your farmers? 4. In your opinion, what per cent of farms in your town are mortgaged? 5. In your opinion, is the number of deserted farms in your vicinity greater than it was ten years ago?" About eighty returns were received, from which we learned that the crop of Indian corn