Progress of the Season. 



The October returns of the United States Department of 

 Agriculture (Crop Circular for October, 1899) give the aver- 

 age condition of corn October 1, as 82.7, as compared with 

 85.2 last month, with 82 on October 1, 1898, and with 81.9, 

 the mean of the October averages of the last ten years. 



No estimate of the yield of wheat per acre is made, pend- 

 ing the result of further careful investigations. 



The preliminary estimate of the yield per acre of oats is 

 30.7 bushels, as compared with 27.8 bushels last year, 28.1 

 bushels in 1897, and a ten-year average of 25.8 bushels. 

 The average for quality is 89.5, 5 points higher than last 

 year and 1.9 above that for 1897. 



The preliminary estimate of the yield per acre of barley 

 is 27 bushels, as compared with 21.6 bushels last year, 24.5 

 bushels in 1897, and a ten-year average of 23 bushels. The 

 average quality is 88.4, against 90.6 last year and 87.6 

 in 1897. 



The preliminary estimate of the yield per acre of rye is 

 14.4 bushels, as compared with 15.6 last year, 16.1 bushels 

 in 1897, and a ten-year average of 13.7. The average for 

 quality is 90, against 90.2 last year and 92.7 in 1897. 



The average condition of buckwheat on October 1 was 

 70.2, as compared with 75.2 last month, 76.2 in 1898, and 

 84.2, the mean of the October averages of the last ten years. 



The average condition of potatoes was 81.7, as compared 

 with 86.3 last month, 72.5 in 1898, and 73.7, the mean of 

 the October averages of the last ten years. 



The average condition of cotton was 62.4, as compared 

 with 68.5 last month, 75.4 in 1898, and 73.5, the mean of 

 the October averages of the last ten years. 



On the whole the condition of tobacco remains about as 

 a month ago. 



There was a decline of from 1 to 9 points in the condition 

 of sugar-cane during the month in all the sugar-cane pro- 

 ducing States, except Florida and South Carolina. 



Of the twelve States having 15,000 acres or more of sorg- 

 hum at the last ceusus, 11 report an impairment in con- 

 dition during the month. 



