fruit has ripened prematurely in many sections, affecting the 

 quality quite seriously. Peaches have rotted on the trees to 

 an alarming extent in Georgia, greatly reducing the prospect 

 for the crop. In Ohio and Michigan the conditions have also 

 declined. 



The returns show a prospect for a large crop of grapes, 

 especially in sections of commercial importance. The per- 

 centages of July have been generally well sustained. 



In Massachusetts the average condition of corn August 1 

 is siven as 93 ; the average condition of oats as 97 ; the 

 average condition of barley as 98 ; the acreage of buckwheat 

 as compared with last year as 100, and its average condition 

 August 1 as 94 ; the average condition of potatoes as 87 ; 

 the average condition of tobacco as 87 ; the average con- 

 dition of timothy as 9fi ; the product of clover compared 

 with a full crop as 90, and its average quality as 96 ; the 

 average condition of pastures as 87 ; the average condition 

 of apples as (>1 ; the average condition of peaches as 82 ; 

 and the average condition of grapes as 93. 



TEMPERATURE AND RAINFALL FOR THE WHOLE COUNTRY. 

 * [Fkom the United States Weather-Crop Bulletins.] 



Week ending July 31. — Week warm throughout the 

 Southern States, central valleys and lake region. Normal 

 temperature on the middle Atlantic and New England coasts, 

 and slightly cooler than usual in the Dakotas, in California, 

 and over the central plateau regions. Rainfall slightly in 

 excess from western Pennsylvania and Virginia westward 

 over the southern portions of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, 

 and westward to Colorado. From the lake region westward 

 to Minnesota and Dakota the rainfall was less than usual, 

 general showers along the Atlantic coast relieving the local 

 drought. General showers have greatly improved grass on 

 the cattle ranges. 



Week ending August 7. — East of the Mississippi nearly 

 normal temperature conditions prevailed, with the tempera- 

 ture slightly in excess over portions of the lower Ohio valley 

 and the lower lake region. West of the Mississippi it was 

 decidedly warmer than usual from Minnesota westward over 

 Montana, and decidedly cooler than usual over the south- 



