The preliminary estimate of the yield per acre of oats is 

 27.8 bushels. This is three-tenths of a bushel per acre less 

 than the preliminary estimate of the crop of 1897, but 2.1 

 bushels per acre above the mean of the preliminary averages 

 of the last ten years. The average for quality is 83.3, against 

 87.6 a year ago. 



The preliminary estimate of the yield per acre of barley 

 is 21.6 bushels, or 2.9 bushels per acre less than in 1897 and 

 1.3 below the mean of the October estimates of the last ten 

 years. The average for quality reported was 91.3 as com- 

 pared with 87.6 last year. 



The preliminary estimate of the yield per acre of rye is 

 15.6. This is five-tenths of a bushel less than the average 

 of last year, but 2.2 above the mean of the October estimates 

 for the last ten years. The average for quality reported is 

 90.1, against 92.7 a year ago. 



The condition of buckwheat declined during September 

 12.6 points, being 76.2 on October 1. This is 14.6 below 

 the average on October 1, 1897, and 8.3 points below the 

 mean of the October averages for the past ten years. This 

 is due largely to the unsatisfactory condition of the crop in 

 New York and Pennsylvania, which together contribute two- 

 thirds of the total production. 



The average condition of cotton on October 1 was 75.4, 

 as compared with 79.8 on September 1, with 70 on Oct. 1, 

 1897, and with 73.9, the mean of the October averages of 

 the last ten years. The decline during September, though 

 by no means uniform, affected the entire cotton-producing 

 region. 



The condition of Irish potatoes declined 5.2 points during 

 September. While it is still 10.9 points higher than the 

 October condition of last year, it is 2.7 points below the 

 mean of the October averages of the last ten years. 



The apple reports show a continued decline in every State 

 in which this crop is of any commercial importance, except 

 in Maine, Michigan, Nebraska and Oregon, where a slight 

 improvement is indicated. 



The yield per acre of hops is generally in excess of last 

 year, California, where it will probably not exceed 1,000 

 pounds to the acre, being the only exception. 



