;, 529, 745 ; total value of farm animals, $1,727,926,084, 

 as against $1,810,44(5,300 in 1895. 



The number of horses on farms in Massachusetts was 65,- 

 102; average price, $72.49; value, $4,719,255. Milch 

 cows, 174,572; average price, $34.63; value, $6,045,428. 

 Oxen and other cattle, 80,476 ; average price, $26.36 

 value, $2,121,662. Sheep, 48,395; average price, $3.30 

 value, $159,703. Swine, 60,726; average price, $8.44 

 value, $512,647. 



The condition of farm animals, except in a few States 

 along the Atlantic seaboard, is reported as generally good, 

 partly because of the unprecedented corn crop and its low 

 price. 



Progress of the Season. 



The May returns of the United States Department of 

 Agriculture (Report No. 137) show an increase in the con- 

 dition of winter wheat of 5.6 points above the April aver- 

 age, being 82.7, against 77.1 last month and 82.9 in May, 

 1895. The principal winter-wheat States nearly all show an 

 improvement in condition. Special reports show excellent 

 prospects in Great Britain and France, and other foreign 

 countries generally good, Spain being the only exception. 



The condition of bailey is 89.2, against 94 in May, 1895. 

 In New York, the greatest barley State, the condition stands 

 at 90. The condition of winter rye on May 1 was 87.7 per 

 cent. 



The condition of spring pastures on May 1 was 93.6 per 

 cent, as against 89.7 in 1895, an unusually high condition, 

 attained on account of the spring rains and favorable tem- 

 perature, in spite of the lack of snow during the winter in 

 some States and the eflects of the late feeding last fall. 



Though many correspondents report meadows as injured 

 by last year's drought, the timely April rains and high tem- 

 perature have induced rapid growth, and the condition on 

 May 1, 1896, stood at 91.8, against 89.4 last year and 91.7 

 in 1894. 



Fine weather and a moist soil have made the season an 

 ideal one for spring ploughing, and the amount accomplished 

 by May 1 was 79.6 per cent, 1.9 points above the average, 

 and nearly up to the figures of 1895. 



