254 
Variation in the Price and Supjdy of Wheat. 
sima) * belonging to the " Urticacese," or nettle family. It is a vigorous 
plant, and its fibre is superior to the best European hemp, the best Belgian 
flax, or linen fibre ; it threatens to become a formidable rival to the cotton 
plant and to flax. 
NORTH CAROLINA.— Report of Mr. Vice-Consul Walker on the 
Trade and Commerce of North Carolina, 1867.— Geographically, North 
Carolina is situated half-way between New York and the Gulf of Mexico, being 
included between the parallels of 34| degrees and 36^ degrees. It extends 
from the Atlantic coast 500 miles westward, stretching more than 100 miles 
beyond the Bine Ridge Mountains, and containing an area of 50,000 square 
miles, having, therefore, the same extent as the State of New York. This 
ten-itory divides itself naturally into three well-marked sections : on the west, 
the mountainous plateau having an elevation of 2500 feet above the sea, 
and being traversed by several chains of mountains, many of whose peaks 
attain an elevation of nearly 7000 feet : on the east lies a low plain, nearly 
level, partly alluvial and partly sandy, extending about 150 miles from the 
coast : and between these two spreads the hill country, whose elevation rises 
gradually from 200 or 300 feet on the east, to 1200 feet at the base of the 
mountains. 
The eastern section is mostly covered with pines (Pinus australis and 
P. taeda), the middle and western with vast forests of oaks (of many species) 
interspersed with the poplar, hickory, walnut, maple, &c. Seven large rivers, 
with their numerous tributaries, traverse the State, furnishing unlimited 
water-power as they flow down from the moimtains through the middle 
section ; and as they move with a moderate current, across the champaign 
country, on the east, into the chain of sounds which skirt the coast, they 
furnish, with these, an aggregate of 900 miles of inland navigation, which 
might be doubled by carrying westward the system of slack water im- 
provements already commenced. With these navigable waters is interlaced 
the railroad .system of the State, amounting to 998 miles completed, and 
400 more in progress, which, with about 350 miles of plankroads and turn- 
pikes, brings the sea coast into ready communication with every part of the 
State. 
The Soil is very various ; alluvial and peaty communications aboxvnd near 
the coast and along the rivers, while in the middle and western regions the 
soil is mainly of granitic origin, and represents every grade of sandy or clayey 
loam of various fertility. 
T7)e Climate has also a wide range, being tempered on the seaboard to 
something like the mildness of that of the Gulf States, while in the mountain 
region it approaches the rigour of New York. In the middle section, which 
constitutes the larger part of the State, and represents the average climate, 
the mean annual temperature is 60 degrees (Fahrenheit) — the mean 
summer temperature, 75 degrees ; mean winter, 43 degrees ; extreme summer 
(diurnal), 89 desjrees ; extreme winter (diurnal), 20 degrees ; average absolute 
minimum, 12 degrees. The annual fall of rain is 45 inches. The number of 
cloudy days in the year is 130; rainy days, 60. 
TJie Vegetable Productions are numerous. The most important are wheat, 
* Baehmeria, or Urtica tenacissima, is indigenous in Sumatra, Rungpore, &c. 
Dr. Roxburgh speaks of the beauty, tineness, ami softness of the fibre : he found it 
the strongest of all the vegetable fibies which he subjected to experiment. It is 
called Rami by the Malays, who rultivate this plant for twine and sewing-thread, 
which they use to make fishing-nets, &c. Kami is found throughout the northern 
as well as the southern parts of India. It grows from cuttings, like the willow, 
throwing up numerous shoots, which may be cut down five times a year. — Royle, 
' Himalayan Botany,' p. 334. 
