378 POPULATION. 



Distribution of population in conformity to the annual rainfall, Table 1, 

 and to the summer rainfall, Table 2. 



Table 1st — i>ercextage of 



Foreign. Aggregate. Negro, 



Below 30 in 12.89 0.08 0.38 



30 in. to 45 in. . . . 54.55 52.57 17.14 



45 in. to 60 in. . . .81.54 89.65 76.88 



Above 60 in 1.02 1.70 5.60 



WO.OO 100.00 100.00 



Table 2d — percextage of 



Foreign. Atrgregate. Negro. 



Below 13° 5.86 2.89 0.20 



15° to 25° 87.83 76.18 38.47 



25° to 35° 6.29 20.77 60.76 



Above 35° 0.02 0.16 0.57 



100.00 100.00 100.00 



It is to be borne in mind that where the annual rainfall is less than 

 twenty-five inches, or the summer rainfall, that i's the rainfall during the 

 crop season, does not reach fifteen inches, agriculture cannot be conducted 

 profitably except by irrigation. And of course the irrigation afforded by 

 streams traversing such regions must be so limited that a large agricultural 

 population can take no foothold there, hi these arid regions the bulk of 

 the population is foreign, and engage little in agricultural pursuits. With 

 regard to rainfall, as with the other factors of climate, the percentage of 

 negroes is greatest where the conditions are most favorable for the sup- 

 port of the human race ; the aggregate j^opulation have the next choice, 

 and the foreigners again fall upon less favored regions. AMiile the negroes 

 occupy regions of abundant rainfall, this rainfall is nowhere excessive, 

 nor does it produce an 'atmosphere saturated with moisture. The porous 

 character of the soils of South Carolina, through which the water, not neces- 

 sary for vegetation, readily disappears, and the large number of cloudless 

 days make mist and fog, mildew and rust, a rare occurrence, so that even 

 in areas of the heaviest rainfall the relative humidity of the atmosphere 

 is similar to, but even less than that of the most noted health resorts of 

 the world. (See Sand Hill Region Climate.) 



Within the State of South Carolina the distribution of the negro popu- 

 lation does not appear to have been determinately influenced by climatic 

 or topographical conditions. They still prej^onderate most largely along 

 the southern and south-western borders of the State, where they were first 



