The Buli^etin. 



9 



NORMAL MOKTHLY AND ANNUAL TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION. 



TEMPERATDRB 



Jan. 



Feb. 



Mar. 



Apr. May. June 



July. 



Aug. 



Sept. ■ Oct. 



Nov. 



Dec. 



Avr. 



AshevlUe I 38 



Lenoir 37 



Hendersonville I 37 



Highlands 34 



^iverage -i 36.5 



Asheville 



Lenoir 



Hendersonville. 



Highlands 



Average 



40 

 40 

 38 

 35 



46 

 46 

 46 

 42 



38.3 



45 



54 

 56 

 53 

 50 



63 

 65 

 64 

 58 



69 

 72 

 70 

 65 



72 

 75 

 73 

 67 



71 



74 

 73 

 66 



65 

 66 

 66 

 60 



54 

 56 

 56 



51 



53.3 



62.5 69 



71.8 



71 



64.3 



54.3 



45 

 46 

 47 

 42 



39 

 38 

 39 

 35 



55 

 56 

 65 

 50 



45 



37.8 64 



PRECIPITATION — INCHES. 



42. e 



52.0 

 65.9 



78.2 



69. 



GENERAL CHAEACTER AND AGRICULTURAL CONDITIONS. i 



The Blue Ridge on the east and the Great Smoky or Bald Moun- 

 tains on the northwest constitute the main nivountain ranges, and 

 lying between them is an irregular mountain table-land of consider- 

 able size. Many narrow but beautiful valleys have been formed in 

 this mountain region. 



The elevation of the mountain ranges varies from 2,000 to more 

 than 6,000 feet above sea level. The lower elevations are found at 

 the foothills of the Blue Ridge and in the inter-mountain area. In 

 the southern portion the mountains are not so rugged and present 

 fewer abrupt slopes than are found in the Great Smoky Mountains 

 and other sections. Many steep peaks and rough ridges with pre- 

 cipitous sides, and intervening valleys and gorges constitute the gen- 

 eral topography of the true Mountain section. Along some of the 

 prominent rivers beautiful valleys have been formed, and in these 

 valleys and in the inter-mountain area agriculture has been most ex- 

 tensively developed. 



There are few large towns or cities in this section of the State, the 

 population being largely agricultural. Farming has not developed 

 so extensively as in the eastern part of the State, however; the farms 

 are small and most often tended by the owner or tenant, and family. 

 Practically all the farm produce is used within the immediate lo- 

 cality. 



The cleared land is estimated to be about twenty per cent of the 

 area. This includes the greater part that is suitable for cultivation, 

 much that is too rough for cultivated crops and should be left in pas- 



