The average condition of rye was 89.4, against 90.1 re- 

 ported September 1, 1897, 82 at the corresponding period 

 of 1896, and the September mean for the last ten years of 

 87.8. 



The average condition of buckwheat was 88.8. as compared 

 with 95.1 reported Sept. 1, 1897, 93.2 at the corresponding 

 period in 1896, and the September mean for the last ten 

 years of 87.7. 



The average condition of cotton was 79.8, a decline of 

 11.4 points during the month. The condition on Sept. 1, 

 1897, was 78.3, and at the corresponding date in 1896, 

 64.2, while the mean of the September averages of the last 

 ten years is 79.4, or within four-tenths of one point of the 

 condition on the first of the present month. 



No average condition for the entire country can be estab- 

 lished for tobacco, but nearly all the important tobacco- 

 growing States report from 89 per cent to 98 per cent of 

 a full crop. 



The average condition of Irish potatoes was 77.7. This 

 shows a decline of 6.2 points during August, but the con- 

 dition is still 11 points above that reported on Sept. 1, 1897, 

 and is only seven-tenths of a point below the mean of the 

 September averages for the last ten years. 



The reports as to sweet potatoes are not such as to war- 

 rant the establishment of an average condition for the entire 

 country, but, on the whole, the very favorable condition 

 reported last month is fully maintained. 



It is manifest from the reports that have been received 

 that the acreage devoted to clover seed is less than it was 

 last year, and that the condition is, in the main, unfavor- 

 able. 



The sugar cane reports are exceptionally favorable, that of 

 Louisiana, in particular, being 2 per cent above a full crop. 



The rice crop also promises to be much above the average, 

 Louisiana, the principal rice-producing State, leading off 

 with a condition of 101. 



There is, in general, a continued downward movement in 

 the condition of the apple crop, only the States of Georgia, 

 Iowa, Minnesota and Idaho reporting the slightest improve- 

 ment over the August report. 



