10 FLORIDA: ITS CLIMATE, SOIL, PRODUCTIONS, 



other, exhibiting no great extremes. Compared with the other regions of the United 

 States, the peninsula of Florida has a climate wholly peculiar. The climate, is so ex- 

 ceedingly mild and uniform that, besides the vegetable productions of the Northern 

 States generally, many of a tropical character are produced. We have already spoken 

 of the mildness of the climate of this region ; it appears to possess an insular temper- 

 ature not less equable and salubrious in winter than that afforded by the South of 

 Europe, and is, therefore, well adapted to those forms of pulmonary disease as bron- 

 chitis and incipient phthisis as are benefited by a mild climate. JUildnefis and uni- 

 formity are the two distinguishing characteristics of the Florida peninsula. If we 

 compare the climate of East Florida with the most favored situations on the conti- 

 nent of Europe, and the islands held in the highest estimation for mildness and equa- 

 bility of temperature, in regard to the mean temperature of winter and summer, that 

 of the warmest and coldest months, and that of successive seasons, we shall find the 

 results generally in favor of the former. 



After citing the mean difference of successive months and annual 

 range of a number of climatic resorts in comparison with stations in 

 Florida, he remarks : 



Thus it is easily demonstrated that invalids requiring a mild winter residence have 

 gone to foreign lands in search of what might be found at home an evergreen land, 

 jn which wild flowers never cease to unfold their petals. 



In discussing the most suitable climates for invalids, Dr. Wilson, late 

 medical inspector of camps and hospitals, United States Army, re- 

 marks : 



Neither upon the southern coast of France, nor anywhere under the bright Italian 

 skies, can a winter climate be found so equable and so genial to the delicate nerves of 

 most invalids as can be enjoyed in our sanitary stations in Florida. 



Temperature is an important factor in climate, and Dr. A. S. Bald- 

 win, of Jacksonville, in an address before the medical association, gives 

 tabular statements of mean temperature at eighteen different stations 

 in Florida during a term of years, including his own observations, which 

 extend through a period of thirty -six years. 



From this table it appears that the mean temperature for the entire 

 State is : For spring, 71 62' ; summer, 80 51' ; autumn, 71 66' winter, 

 70 05'. 



For stations on and south of latitude 28 north : Spring, 74 94' ; sum- 

 mer, 81 93 ; ; autumn, 76 27' ; winter, 63 69' ; and for the year, 74 87 '. 



For the stations north of latitude 28 north : Spring, 70 66' ; sum- 

 mer, 80 10' ; autumn, 70 23' ; winter, 58 29' ; and for the year, 69 82'. 



During the spring the temperature south of latitude 28 north is 4. 

 28' ; for summer, 1 83' ; for autumn, 6 34' ; and for winter, 5 40' higher 

 than it is north of 28 ; showing that the difference between the summer 

 and winter temperature is less south than north of parallel 28. After 

 explaining the astronomical law which governs, the doctor remarks : 



Although there is more absolute heat at Jacksonville, Fla., latitude 30, during the 

 entire year than there is at Milwaukee. Wis., latitude 43 03'. yet there is more heat 

 received from the sun at the latter place dm ing the three summer months than at the 

 former during the same period, and Wisconsin is liable to experience a higher tem- 

 perature during the summer months than is Florida during the same time. 



