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river bottoms, which are clayey, and sandy loams. As these soils are for the most part derived from underlying granitic rocks by simple chemical decomposition, they are arranged in parallel northeasterly zones of fertile and poor soils, but all capable of indefinite improvement by the hand of intelligent husbandry. This great variety of soils, together with the wide range of climatic conditions, gives rise to the greatest variety of natural products, and lays the foundation for an immense range of agricultural productions. One remarkable feature of the mountain section is that the highest ranges and peaks are covered with soil, and heavy forests crown their highest summits and steepest declivities.
POPULATION.
North Carolina came out of the Revolution of 1776 with a population of nearly 400,000. The settlers came originally from England, Scotland, the North of Ireland and Holland, many of them by way of Pennsylvania and other Northern States. Since the Revolution there has been less influx of population from other States than efflux Southwestward to the new T States, and very little immigration from Europe. Being the third in population among the original 13 States, she is now 14th among 37, numbering in 1870,
White, 678,670
Colored, 392,891
Total, 1,071,361
This number is about 50,000 less than it would have been but for the late war, judging from the previous rate of increase.
INDUSTRIES.
Agriculture has always been the chief and almost exclusive occupation of the people of North Carolina—agricul- 2