sheep, valued at $67,020,942; 40,600,276 swine, valued at 

 $166,272,770; total value of farm animals, $1,655,414,612, 

 as against $1,727, 926,084 in 1896. 



The number of horses on farms in Massachusetts was 

 63,800; average price, $64.67; value, $4,125,916. Milch 

 cows, 172,826; average price, $30.78; value, $5,319,584. 

 Oxen and other cattle, 75,647 ; average price, $24.33 

 value, $1,840,485. Sheep, 42,104; average price, $3.38 

 value, $142,206. Swine, 58,297 ; average price, $8.44 

 value, $492,025. 



Progress of the Season. 



The May returns of the United States Department of 

 Agriculture (Report No. 148) show a decline in the condi- 

 tion of winter wheat of 1.2 points from the April average, 

 being 80.2, against 81.4 last month and 82.7 in May, 1896. 

 The worst injuries from freezing and deficient snow are re- 

 ported in the north central States. The conditions in Eu- 

 ropean countries are generally not quite as good as last year. 



The condition of barley is high, — 96.4 this j^ear, against 

 89.2 in 1896 and 94 in 1895, at same date. The average 

 condition of rye is 88, against 88.9 in April and 87.7 in 

 May last year. The lowest figures are found in the same 

 States giving the lowest wheat figures, but are considerably 

 less depressed. 



The average condition of meadows is 93.4, against 91.8 a 

 year ago and 89.4 in 1895. This exceptionally high condi- 

 tion is general. Wherever low figures are reported the con- 

 dition is usually attributed to the late season. 



The average condition of pastures is 93.4, against 93.2 a 

 year ago and 89.7 in 1895. There are many complaints 

 that pasturage is backward, owing to the prevailing low 

 temperature, but the general average is higher than has 

 been reached for a number of years. 



Farmers are behind with their spring ploughing, as a rule, 

 in all sections of the country except along the northern half 

 of the Atlantic coast, and in Texas, New Mexico and Okla- 

 homa. The loss of time in the other States is attributed 

 chiefly to excessive rains and the late season. 



