24 THE COAST REGION. 



perhaps, p)hosphatc mining, in wliicli they may be employed, it follows 

 that a large number must earn a living as farm laborers or live without 

 employment, both of which conclusions are correct. 



The work stock numbers 7,692 animals, being eleven-hundredths of an 

 animal per capita, which is more than the ratio in the lower pine belt, 

 but less than that of the other regions. The work stock per square 

 mile is 4.5, being greater than in any other i-egion, except in the upper 

 pine belt and Piedmont regions. 



The product of r/rain, including corn, small grain and rice, is 793,669 

 bushels, being 11 bushels per capita, the minimum found in any region 

 of the State. Per square mile, the average is 466 bushels, which 

 compares favorably with an average of 501 bushels for the whole State, 

 especially when the salt marshes are allowed for. This is an increase on 

 the crop of 1870, which was only stated at 389,720 bushels, or 229 bushels 

 per square mile, and 18 bushels per capita, the latter figure being much 

 diminished by the larger population returns of 1880. 



The total of all stock, including work stock, is 43,946, averaging 25.8 per 

 square mile against an average of 57.1 for the whole State, and 0.65 per 

 capita, being a little less than half the average of the whole State, which 

 is 1.27. This is an increase since 1870, the average then being 9.4 per 

 square mile, and 0.70 per capita. 



The acreage of improved land is 106,772, being 62 acres per square mile, 

 not quite one-tenth of the total area, and 1.5 acres per capita, as against an 

 average of 3.8 acres per capita for the whole State. The bulk of this 

 land is planted in corn, cotton, small grain and rice, there being only 

 9,552 acres in other crops and fallow ; a large part of the latter being, 

 doubtless, the cotton lands left fallow by the best jjlanters each alternate 

 year. 



PRODUCTIONS. 



The olive and orange tree bring their fruit to full perfection on the 

 South Carolina coast. Once only during a period of sixteen years pre- 

 vious to 1880 were the orange trees injured by frost, when the tops of 

 about one-fourth were killed, while the roots put out fresh shoots ; the 

 fruit from single trees in the neighborhood of Beaufort has for a series of 

 years sold for $150 to $250. The oranges of this region bring a higher 

 price in the market and are thought superior to those grown further 

 south. Even tlK^ l>anaiui, with a not expensive winter protection, has 

 hecn made to ripen its fruit. Fig trees of every variety, with little or no 

 attention, grow everywhere and produce several abuntlant crops yearly ; 

 so that could some process similar to the Alden process for drying fruit 



