AND AGRICULTURAL CAPABILITIES. . 37 



vary in extent from a few acres to a number of square miles, are equally 

 available for tropical products. 



BREVARD COUNTY. 



Bounded north by Orange and Volusia Counties, east by the Atlan- 

 tic Ocean, south by Dade, and west by Orange, Polk, and Manatee 

 Counties. It extends along the coast for 100 miles, and contains an 

 area over 4,000 square miles. The famous Indian River extends along 

 its eastern boundary, the Kissimee River and Lake forming its western 

 boundary. The climate is even and pleasant through the year. Game 

 is plenty, and green turtle, fish, and oysters abound. Stock-raising is 

 largely pursued ; the cattle having a good range, are of good size and 

 in good condition. Along Indian River, the west bank of which is from 

 10 to 20 feet above the ocean, settlements are being made. Indian 

 River has a reputation for its oranges and pineapples, and all semi-trop- 

 ical fruits, which here grow in perfection. The county seat is Titus- 

 ville, a thriving town on Indian River. 



DADE COUNTY. 



Bounded north by Brevard County, east and south by Atlantic Ocean, 

 and west by Monroe County. Has an area of over 5,000 square miles. 

 Lake Okeechobee, an inland sheet of water, of over 500 square miles, 

 without any visible outlet to ocean or gulf, occupies the northwestern 

 corner of the county, the famous everglades the largest portion of the 

 remainder. Along the Atlantic coast there is it strip of elevated rocky 

 pine lands, 3 to 15 miles wide, skirted by a prairie or savanna, from a 

 half mile to a mile in width, reaching to the everglades. This rich al- 

 luvial prairie is covered with an immense growth of grass. The climate 

 is very equable, the extremes being from 51 to 92. From May to 

 October rains are frequent ; during the remainder of the year there is 

 little rainfall. In the vicinity of Biscayne the land is covered with an 

 undergrowth of comptie, which yields an excellent article of starch and 

 farina, similar to arrowroot. Dade County is the least populous county 

 in the State. Miami is the county seat. 



The following detailed description of this county, and the section of 

 the State adjoining, was furnished by Lieutenant-Governor Gleason, a 

 resident of the county, and published in a State paper. It is of interest 

 as conveying a definite idea of the local advantages of this entire por- 

 tion of the State, extending from Jupiter Inlet to Cape Sable, including 

 the keys and islands along the reefs and everglades : 



The keys are a series of islands extending along the south coast, from Cape Florida 

 to the Dry Tortugas, lying between the mainland and the Florida Reefs, and within 

 from 3 to 5 miles of the Gulf Stream. They are of a similar character, being of gen- 

 eral formation and very rocky. Some are only a few acres in extent, while others 

 contain as many as 15,000 acres. Cayo Largo is the largest. These keys are only a 

 few feet above tide-water, and are principally covered with a growth of hard-wood 

 timber, consisting of mastic, red and sweet bay, gumbo-limbo, crab wood, palmetto, 



