Preliminary returns indicate an increase of 43,000 acres, 

 or 6.7 per cent, in the acreage of buckwheat, as compared 

 with last year. The condition was 91.1, being 3.2 points 

 higher than last year, 2.1 points lower than in 1899, and .5 

 point above the mean of the August averages of the last ten 

 years. 



The average condition of potatoes declined 25.1 points 

 during July, to 62.3, which is 25.9 points lower than on 

 the corresponding date last year, 30.7 lower than on Aug. 1, 

 1899, and 24.8 points below the mean of the August aver- 

 ages of the last ten years. 



Of the thirteen principal sweet-potato-producing States, 

 only two report an improvement during July. 



Preliminary returns indicate a reduction of 2.6 per cent 

 in the hay acreage. The condition of timothy hay was 84.1, 

 which was 4.2 points higher than last year, 2.6 points lower 

 than in 1899, and 1.7 points below the mean of the August 

 averages of the last nine years. 



The reports as to the production of clover are on the 

 whole unfavorable. 



During July the changes in the condition of the tobacco 

 crop were wholly unfavorable. 



Reports regarding the apple crop are extremely unfavor- 

 able. The comparatively low condition reported on July 1 

 heavily declined during the month. A very poor crop will 

 be gathered. 



The condition of hops was higher on August 1 than at the 

 same date in 1900. 



The condition of rice was on the whole favorable. 



There was a marked impairment in the condition of past- 

 ures during July, there being but few States in which de- 

 clines were not reported. 



The average condition of cotton on July 25 was 77.2, as 

 compared with 88.1 on the 25th of the preceding month, 76 

 on Aug. 1, 1900, 84 on Aug. 1, 1899, and a ten-year aver- 

 age of 84. 



In Massachusetts the average condition of corn was 93 ; 

 the average condition of spring rye, 94 ; the average condi- 

 tion of oats, 82 ; the average condition of barley, 83 ; the 

 acreage of buckwheat, as compared with last year, 100, and 



