South Carolina

SOUTH CAROLINA, popularly called the "Palmetto State," is an Atlantic coast State of America, and one of the original Thirteen. Its area is 30,989 sq.m., of which 494 sq.m. are water.

Physical Features.

South Carolina is mainly in the coastal plain and Piedmont plateau regions, but in the north-west it ex tends slightly into the Appalachian mountain region. Locally the coastal plain region is known as the low country, and the Pied mont plateau and Appalachian mountain regions are known as the up-country. The coast is low and islands increase in size and num ber toward the Georgia border. For about 1 o m. inland the coastal plain is occupied largely by salt marshes. Then, although continu ing flat, the surface rises at the rate of about ft. per mile for m. or more.

Parts of the Blue Ridge rise abruptly from the foothills to ft. in Mt. Pinnacle, 3,218 ft. in Caesar's Head, and 3,157 ft. in Table Rock. The highest point in the State is Sassafras moun tain (3,548 ft.) in the Blue Ridge and on the North Carolina State line. The mean elevation of the State is about 35o feet.

The principal rivers rise in the Appalachian mountains and flow south-east into the Atlantic ocean. In the middle section, Santee river is formed by the confluence of the Wateree (known above Camden as the Catawba) and the Congaree, which is in turn formed by the Broad and the Saluda. The basin of this system embraces about half the area of the State. In the north-east the Great Pedee and its tributaries—the Little Pedee, Waccamaw and Lynches—are wholly within the coastal plain, but the main stream is a continuation below the fall line of the Yadkin river, which rises in the mountains of North Carolina. The Edisto is the prin cipal stream in the south-east. In the Piedmont plateau there are rapids; but in the coastal plain the current becomes sluggish, and in times of high water the rivers spread over wide areas.

Flora.

Palmettos are confined to the coast. For some distance from the ocean there are magnolias, live oaks draped with long grey moss and reed-covered marshes. In the swamps are cypress,

gum and bay trees. In most of the uplands of the coastal plain the long-leaf pine is predominant, but large water-oaks and under growths of several other oaks and of hickories are not uncommon. On the Piedmont plateau and in some of the more hilly sections below the fall line there is some short-leaf pine, but most of the trees in these areas are hardwoods. Deciduous oaks are most common, but beech, birch, ash, maple, black walnut, chestnut, sycamore and yellow poplar also abound. On the mountains are oaks, chestnut, laurel, white pine and hemlock. Among indigenous trees, shrubs and vines are the blackberry, grape, persimmon, plum, crab-apple, hickory, chestnut and hazel nut.

Climate.

Along the coast the climate is mild and equable. At Charleston, the mean winter temperature is 51°, the mean sum mer temperature 8o°, the mean annual temperature 66° and the range of extremes from to 7°. For the State the mean temperature is about 63°. In nearly all sections January is the coldest month and July the warmest. Aiken, near Augusta, Ga., has a very mild winter season and is a popular resort. The mean annual rainfall for the State is about 47.75 in. and its distribution is excellent. Seventeen inches fall during the summer. Snow is uncommon in the south-east but elsewhere there may be several inches. The frost-free season ranges from 245 days on the coast to 204 days on the uplands. Tornadoes occur in the west and the coast suffers from hurricanes.

Soils.

In general the soils of the Piedmont plateau are such as have been formed by the disintegration of the underlying rocks. These consist mostly of granite and gneiss, but in the north central section there is trap-rock, and in the south-east section some slate. On the Piedmont plateau the subsoil is a reddish or yellowish clay. In the upper section of the coastal plain the soil is for the most part a loose sand, but lower down it becomes more fertile.