A Horticulturist in Florida. 263 



temperature throughout the year. The mysterious Gulf Stream softens for 

 us in winter the chilly ocean-winds, brings to our shores the steady warmth 

 of equatorial seas, and clothes our fields and forests with the perpetual 

 verdure and bloom of the Antilles ; while, to temper the heat of our sum- 

 mer, the cool and bracing breezes of the Atlantic, and the balmy and 

 refreshing airs of the Mexican Gulf, alternately prevail, chasing each other 

 back and forth across the psninsula, both being distinctly felt at the centre 

 of the State. 



Thus, though several degress north of the tropical parallels, we have most 

 of the conditions of a tropical climate, and are enabled to cultivate with suc- 

 cess the most delicate fruits of the West Indies ; while our peninsular con- 

 figuration and peculiar position insure us against the intense heats charac- 

 teristic of most tropical countries. 



In fact, the comparative coolness of the summer here is as marked a 

 peculiarity as the warmth of the winter. The mercury often ranges much 

 higher in New York or Boston than in Jacksonville or Tampa. The mean 

 temperature of the month of June last (and June is the hottest month of the 

 year with us), near the thirtieth parallel of latitude, and more than twenty 

 miles inland from the Atlantic coast, was about 80°. At New Smyrna, on 

 the seaboard and near the twenty-ninth parallel, the average temperature 

 of the summer is 82° ; and of the whole year, 72°. The nights are invaria- 

 bly cool at all seasons of the year, and in all parts of the State. 



Our rainy season commences about the first of July, and continues till 

 the middle of September, during which time it rains almost every day. 

 The rain falls in heavy showers, accompanied by thunder and lightning, 

 and lasting from one to four hours. These showers generally commence 

 about one o'clock in the afternoon, and are entirely over before six o'clock, 

 leaving at least half the day and the whole of the night clear and delight- 

 fully cool. 



Our winter, if we must call it by that name, resembles very closely what 

 is called in New England " Indian summer," except that the air is clearer 

 and the skies bluer. A dry, bracing atmosphere and cloudless days are 

 continuous for weeks together. Vegetation in some species of plants seems 

 scarcely checked at all even here (about 30'^ north latitude), where I have 

 observed the elder {Samhucus Canadensis) putting out new shoots and grow- 



