INTRODUCTION. 
87 
The table exhibits the great variability of the relative amount of mois 
ture in the air during the period represented, the humidity being greatest in 
August, decidedly so at Wilmington ; and the low degree of saturation dur- 
ing the hottest days is notable ; as the temperature of the air rises towards 
90°, the percentage of saturation commonly sinks to 50° and lower. 
These columns reveal the important fact that the excessive humidity of 
the atmosphere over the Gulf States and the lower and middle Missis- 
sippi valley is by no means able to follow the course of the southwest 
winds across the Appalachians. The importance of this fact in a cliraato- 
logal sense, and agriculturally, and especially in a sanitary point of view,, 
is worthy of much emphasis. 
The following comparative table of humidities shows the relative hy- 
grometric condition of the atmosphere at several typical localities, and 
sets the fact of the relative dryness of the air in this State in a strong 
light. 
The data, other than those for this State, are given by Blodget in his 
valuable work on American Climatology. This writer emphasizes the 
fact that the climate of the Gulf States and the Mississippi valley is verv 
humid, and calls attention to the undoubted relation between the high 
percentage of moisture during the hot months and the excessive insalu- 
brity of the whole region during the same season : 
COMPARATIVE HUMIDITIES. 
Wilmington. 
Charlotte. 
New Orleans. 
St. Louis. 
London 
Jan’y, 
57 
78 
85 
68 
85 
Feb’y, 
51 
75 
84 
87 
85 
Mar., 
36 
66 
83 
61 
80 
Apr., 
42 
53 
83 
46 
80 
May, 
61 
65 
84 
66 
75. 
June, 
56 
60 
81 
69 
73- 
July, 
64 
82 
70 
77 
Aug., 
71 
64 
87 
78 
77 
Sept., 
73 
65 
85 
80 
74 
Oct., 
55 
56 
80 
63 
83 
Nov., 
53 
57 
84 
71 
86 
Dec., 
60 
73 
82 
68 
84 
Year, 
57 
65 
86 
67 
80 
