The ]:eported average yield of wheat per acre is withheld, 

 pending the result of a special investigation into the acreage 

 and production of wheat in the United States, now approach- 

 ing completion. 



The preliminar}' estimate of the yield per acre of oats is 

 28.1 bushels. Last year the October estimate was 24.3 

 bushels and the final estimate 25.7 bushels. The averao-e of 

 quality is 87.6, which is higher by 12.7 points than the pre- 

 liminary estimate of October, 1896. 



The average yield per acre of rye, as indicated by the 

 preliminar}' returns, is 16.1 bushels, as against 13.3 bushels, 

 the preliminary estimate for last year. The average for 

 quality is 92.7, as compared with 89.9 in October of last 

 year. 



The preliminary estimate of the yield per acre of barley is 

 24.5 bushels, which is 0.9 points higher than the October 

 estimate of last year and 0.5 points higher than the final 

 estimate of the average yield of last year's crop. The averr 

 age as to quality is 87.6, as compared with the October 

 average of 79.4 one year ago and 91.5 in 1895. 



The condition of buckwheat declined durino; the month 

 4.3 points, the October average being 90.8. 



The cotton returns indicate an average condition on Octo- 

 ber 1 of 70, as compared with 78.3 in September, 60.7 last 

 year, and an October average of 74.5 for the last ten years. 

 The present average is the lowest October average since 

 1883, with the exception of the last two years, 1895 and 

 1896. The decline in condition is mainly due to the long- 

 continued drought. 



The condition of tobacco has further declined 5.2 points 

 during the month, and now stands at 70.3, which is the 

 lowest October average in fifteen years. It is 6.6 points 

 below last year and 1L.5 points below the October average 

 for the last ten years. 



There was a marked decline during the month of 5,1 points 

 in the condition of Irish potatoes, bringing the average down 

 to 61.6, an exceedingly low average condition. This is 20.1 

 points below the October condition of last year and 13.6 

 points below the average October condition for the last ten 

 years. 



