down to 93. The general average of condition is 89.9, 

 against 85.2 in June, 1896. The crop has been retarded by 

 the cold weather, and has also been injured by grasshoppers 

 in Michigan and by the army worm in Iowa. 



The acreage of cotton shows a general increase, the aver- 

 age percentage being 103.5 of last year's, making a total of 

 24,091,000 acres. The condition is very low throughout 

 and almost uniform, being 83.5, against 97.2 last year. 

 The condition is largely due to the cold and unfavorable 

 weather, though there has also been some injury from insects. 



Rice shows an increase in acreage for the whole county of 

 3.1 per cent and a condition of 98.8, as against 90 last June. 



The acreage of clover is increased 2.6 per cent over last 

 year, this seeming due partly to increased appreciation of 

 clover as a forage crop and partly to favorable weather con- 

 ditions, which insured a good catch. The average condition 

 is 96, against 88.4 last year, the weather having been unusu- 

 ally favorable to this crop. 



The average condition of spring pasture has advanced from 

 93.4 in May to 96.7, against 94.5 a year ago. The condition 

 is high along the North Atlantic coast and comparativel}^ low 

 along the South Atlantic coast. In north central and western 

 sections a high condition prevails. Deficient moisture is the 

 cause assigned where the condition is unsatisfactory. 



The average condition of apples was 74.8, 3.8 per cent 

 higher than last June, but commercially the present situation 

 is apparently less favorable than a year ago, the condition 

 being lowest in the most important States. The season has 

 been too cold and wet for fruit, and bad dropping is already 

 reported in the earlier States. 



The general average condition of peaches is 67, as against 

 64.7 last June. In general the present prospects appear to 

 be poorer than for any year since 1890, except 1894. The 

 outlook is best in Connecticut, New Jersey, Maryland and 

 California. 



In Massachusetts the acreage of rye compared with last 

 year is given as 92 and the average condition June 1 as 98 ; 

 the acreage of oats as 100 and the condition as 100 ; the 

 acreage of barley as 94 and the condition as 97 ; the acre- 

 age of clover as 102 and the condition as 113 ; the average 



