The sorghum crop is generally in fine condition, if excep- 

 tion be made of certain of the Southern States, Colorado and 

 California. 



Sugar cane suffered a heavy decline in condition during the 

 month. Louisiana, which produces the bulk of the sugar- 

 cane crop, has now a condition of 54 only. In Texas the 

 prospect is even poorer, and in all the Gulf States the con- 

 dition is low. 



The condition of apples has been generally maintained 

 during the month, and the statements made in August as to 

 crop prospects still hold good. 



The average condition of peaches has declined to 42.8. 

 The quality of the crop has not been up to the average, ex- 

 cepting some fruit from the mountain orchards. The curcu- 

 lio has proved particularly numerous this year. The condi- 

 tion of the California crop is lower than for many years. 



The condition of the grape crop is generally good. In 

 important districts in the east the figures are about where 

 they were last year, but on the Pacific coast the crop is very 

 much below the average, and nearly 20 points below last 

 year. 



Conditions for rice stood at 76.5 September 1, as against 

 94.5 in 1895 and 89.4 in 1894. The Louisiana crop is 

 reported to be considerably below the average. 



Cotton shows a decline from the August condition of 15.9 

 points, or from 80.1 to 64.2 per cent, the lowest September 

 condition reported for twenty-seven years. The staple is 

 much lighter than usual in consequence of drought and heat, 

 and the shedding of leaves and bolls will result in material 

 damage to the yield from the top crop. 



There is a decrease of 7 per cent from last year in the 

 number of stock hogs for fattening. Notwithstanding the 

 numerous losses from disease and scarcity of feed in some 

 sections of the country, the average condition as to weight 

 and size is 0.6 point higher than that of last year, being 94.5, 

 against 93.9 a year ago. Eight States show a condition 

 above the normal. 



In Massachusetts the average condition of corn Septem- 

 ber 1 is given as 100 ; the average condition of rye when 

 harvested as 97 ; the average condition of oats when har- 



