the country, has an average of only 84, but other of the 

 larger oat-producing States report high averages of condi- 

 tion. 



The average condition of winter rye, 95, is 11,2 points 

 higher than in July of last year, and also exceeds any July 

 average since 1889. The average condition of spring rye, 

 90, is 8.6 points lower than the exceptionally high average 

 of last year. The average of this crop is determined largely 

 by that of Wisconsin, which produces about one-half the 

 entire crop of the country. The average for spring and 

 winter rye combined is 93.4. 



The condition of barley is 88.5, or 0.4 points higher than 

 at this time last year. The four States of principal produc- 

 tion, — California, Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin, — all 

 have hio;h averages. 



The consolidated returns in regard to Irish potatoes show 

 an acreage of 91.6 per cent of that of 1896. This shrinkage 

 is general, Nebraska being the only State with any consid- 

 erable acreage devoted to this crop that shows an increase. 

 The condition is reported as 87.8 against 99 in July of last 

 year, the present condition being lower than the July con- 

 dition for a long series of years. 



Data are not sufficient to give an average for the condition 

 of clover, but it is generally good, most of the North Atlan- 

 tic States reporting one of the best crops for many years. 



On the whole, the reports in regard to timothy are less 

 satisfactory than those for clover, owing to a backward 

 spring. 



Pastures are generally good, and in a few States in prime 

 condition. 



The returns relative to the fleeces sheared in the fdW of 

 1896 and the spring of 1897 make the average weight for 

 the entire county 5.8 pounds, the highest for several years. 



The average condition for cotton is 86 as compared with 

 83.5 for last month and 92.5 in July, 1896. 



The acreage of tobacco shows a billing off of 21.5 per cent 

 as compared with last year. In point of condition, also, the 

 tobacco crop on July 1 compared very unfavorably with the 

 condition at the corresponding period of last year, the aver- 

 ages being 78.5 and 91.5 respectively. 



