The average condition of barley is 87.5, as compared 

 with 88.5 last month, 82.9 on Aug. 1, 1896, and 85.8 the 

 August average for the last ten years. Good averages are 

 reported from California, Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin, 

 which States produce considerably over two-thirds of the 

 total crop. 



The area of buckwheat is 4.8 per cent less than that of 

 last year. The average condition is 94.9, as compared with 

 96 at the corresponding period of last year and 91.4 the 

 August average for the last ten years. 



The average condition of Irish potatoes fell during July 

 from 87.8 to 77.9, which latter figure is 16.9 points lower 

 than on Aug. 1, 1896, and 9.5 points lower than the August 

 average for the last ten years. The decline in condition has 

 been general throughout all the States of principal production. 



The condition of tobacco, taking the country as a unit, is 

 practically unchanged, the returns indicating 78.7 per cent 

 of a full crop, as compared with 78.5 per cent last month, 

 86.5 per cent on Aug. 1, 1896, and 81.6 percent the August 

 average for the last ten years. 



The cotton returns indicate an average condition of 86.9, 

 as compared with 86 on July 1, 80.1 on Aug. 1, 1896, and 

 an August average of 86.1 for the last ten years. 



Eice has fallen off in condition from 5 to 15 points in all 

 the States of principal production, drought, cut worms and 

 chinch bugs being the principal causes of the deterioration. 



The total area of the hay crop is 1.9 per cent less than last 

 year. The prospect for grass was very fine before cutting 

 generally throughout the country, but in many States the 

 excessive wet weather delayed cutting and seriously injured 

 the quality of the crop. 



The average condition of pastures is very high, an average 

 exceeding or closely approaching 100 being reported from 

 three-fourths of the States. 



The reports from the few States in which West India sugar 

 cane can be successfully grown are very favorable, Louisiana 

 and Florida each having a percentage of 90. 



Reports on sorghum are in the main favorable, but there 

 are some reports of excessive heat, drought and chinch bugs. 



The condition of hops in the State of New York is only 71 



