Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 18.djvu/420

SOUTH CAROLINA. that of Southern Europe. It is especially healthful in the uplands and pine barrens, but unhealthful in the low swamp regions. The mean annual temperature for the State is 61°; the mean for January is 44.6°, and for July 79.5°. The maximum is about 106°, and a temperature of 1° was observed in the northwestern highlands in 1900. Snow in measurable amounts generally does not fall on more than two or three days in a year, except in the mountains, where there is a considerable snowfall. The average annual rainfall is 47 inches, fairly evenly distributed both as to localities and seasons, though there is a maximum in summer and a minimum in autumn. Hurricanes visit the coast occasionally, and sometimes do considerable damage. In 1886 the State suffered from a severe earthquake which caused great destruction at Charleston.

The coast islands present a distinct semi-tropical aspect, the palmetto, live oak, and magnolia being here the characteristic plants. In the coastal plain the long-leaf pine is the predominating species in the great forests, covering the sandy regions, while the cypress grows in the swamp lands. In the upper pine belt, except in the sand hills, oaks and hickories begin to appear, and these, together with elms, maples, chestnuts, and other deciduous trees common to the Northern States, predominate in the upland. The persimmon, locust, and plane tree grow in this State. Wild grapes are abundant, as well as strawberries and fruit shrubs and trees common to the Eastern States.

For, see paragraph under .

South Carolina is nearly equally divided between the most ancient and the most recent of geological systems, the division corresponding to the topographical division into the Piedmont and coastal plains. The western half or Piedmont Plain belongs to the great Archæan belt, which flanks the eastern slope of the Appalachians. Granite predominates here, with gneiss and mica-slate in the higher regions. The eastern half belongs to the coastal plain formation, consisting of unindurated Tertiary and recent sands and clays. The granite industry is the most important of the mining industries, the output having increased rapidly from $37,820 in 1897 to $996,084 in 1901, the production in the latter year having been exceeded in only four States. Limestones are also quarried, but the mineral next in importance is rock phosphate, used as an artificial fertilizer, in the production of which the State ranked first until 1894, when larger beds were exploited in Florida. The product in 1893 was 502,564 long tons, valued at $2,157,014; in 1901 it had decreased to 321,181 tons, with a value of $961,840. Clay products rank next in value. Gold and silver are mined in small quantities, and the iron ores, though existing in considerable quantities, are but little worked.

In 1897 there were 2139 persons engaged in the fisheries, of whom 1865 were employed on inshore or boat fisheries. The figures for the yield for that year were $210,456. The most valuable species are oysters, whiting, shad, and sea-bass.

In 1900, 72.4 per cent. of the land area was included in farms, and of this 41.3 per cent. (5,775,741 acres) was improved—a

large increase over all earlier years. The average size of farms in 1900 (90 acres) was only one-sixth as large as the average size in 1850. In 1900, 36.7 per cent. of the farms were let for cash rent, and 24.3 per cent. share rent. Considerably over half of the farms are operated by negroes, and only 18.2 per cent. of these properties are owned by them. In probably no State is the cotton crop so predominant as in South Carolina. In area it annually exceeds every other crop and is several times as important as any other crop with respect to value. The acreage in 1900 was larger than for any other census year, as was also the number of bales produced (881,422), the crop being nearly three times as great as in 1850. Of the total area of cotton, 23,902 acres were in the sea-island variety.

Corn, the second crop in importance, made large gains in the decade 1890-1900. During that period there was also a revival in wheat culture and a decrease in the cultivation of oats, but neither crop is of great importance. Rice is the only other cereal worthy of mention. It has been grown in South Carolina since 1700, and the State took first rank in its cultivation until 1861. The increasing destructiveness of the freshets since the deforestation of the mountain slopes has greatly hampered the growth of the industry. However, in the decade 1890-1900 it almost regained the ground which it had lost in the preceding ten years. The State is now exceeded by Louisiana alone in rice production. The acreage in hay increased 264.3 per cent. in the decade 1890-1900. Considerable attention is given to the raising of peas, and tobacco and sweet potatoes are products of some importance. The area devoted to tobacco in 1900 was 65 times as great as in 1890. The following table shows the acreage of the leading crops:

In 1890-1900 there was a large increase in the number of all kinds of domestic animals except sheep. There is a smaller number of all varieties of live stock (except mules) than in 1850—less than half as many cattle and less than one-fifth as many sheep. The following table shows the number of domestic animals on farms:

Prior to 1880 the manufacturing industry had been quite insignificant. Its growth has since been rapid. The total value of products increased 90.7 per cent, from 1880 to 1890, and 84 per cent. in the following decade, being estimated in 1900 at $58,748,731. The