thirteen years. In almost every State in which the produc- 

 tion of barley constitutes an important branch of the agri- 

 cultural industry the condition on June 1 was highly 

 favorable. 



The acreage under rye shows a decrease of 8.9 per cent. 

 The average condition of rye is 84.5, as compared with 97.1 

 last year, 89.9 in 1897, and 91.3, the mean of the June 

 averages of the last thirteen years. The condition is below 

 the average in all the important rye-producing States except 

 New York. 



The reports on cotton planting indicate a reduction of 

 about 8 per cent in the area planted. The acreage planted 

 was not only less than last year, but there has also been 

 some ploughing up of land where the seed failed to germi- 

 nate. The average condition of cotton was 85.7, against 89 

 last year, and 88.1, the mean of the June averages of the 

 last thirteen years. 



In Louisiana, the principal rice-producing State, there is 

 an increase of at least 7 per cent in the acreage, and in every 

 other State except Alabama and Mississippi there is also 

 some increase. The condition in Louisiana is 8 per cent 

 below the June average of the last five years, but elsewhere 

 it is above the average. 



The peach crop will probably come as near being a total 

 failure as it ever will come in a country of such vast extent 

 and such varied climatic conditions as the United States. 

 With the exception of California, where the conditions indi- 

 cate from 75 to 95 per cent of a full crop, there is not a 

 State that has the promise of as much as two-thirds of a nor- 

 mal crop ; few look for even half a crop, and in many 

 important peach-growing States there will be practically no 

 crop whatever. 



There are but few States in which the condition of spring 

 pasture is not manifestly below the average of a series of 

 years. 



From eighteen States and Territories an increase, and from 

 thirty a decrease, is reported in the acreage of clover. The 

 condition of clover is below the average, except in Idaho, 

 where it is the same, and in Maine, Georgia, Kentucky and 

 Nebraska, where it is 3, 2, 3 and 6 points above. 



