In the south the temperature scarcely changes the year round, and summer is only distinguished by the copiousness of its showers. The average mean temperature of the state is about 73° F., and the difference between summer and winter does not generally exceed 25°, while at Key West it is not more than 11°. The thermometer seldom rises above 00° in summer, and rarely falls below 30° in winter. Frost is unknown in southern Florida, and very little ice is formed in the northern part of the state. The atmosphere is generally dry and clear. Owing to the evenness and salubrity of its climate, Florida has long been a popular resort for invalids, and especially those afflicted with pulmonary complaints. Of the total deaths from all causes in Florida in 1870, as reported by the federal census, only 131 were from consumption. There were 17.3 deaths from all causes to one from consumption. The advantages of the climate in this respect are further shown by a comparison of the statistics relating to consumption as reported by the census of 1870, from which it appears that the ratio of deaths from consumption to those from all causes was less in Florida than in any other state except Nevada; and this advantage becomes still greater when it is considered that Florida being a popular resort for consumptives, a large proportion of those who die there from that cause came with the disease from other states.-According to the census of 1870, the state contained in farms 736,172 acres'of improved land, 1,425,786 of woodland, and 211,583 of other unimproved land.

The total number of farms was 10,241; cash value of farms, $0,947,920; of farming implements and machinery, $505,074; total amount of wages paid during the year, including value of board, $1,537,060; total (estimated) value of all farm productions, including betterments and additions to stock, $8,909,746; value of orchard products, $53,639; of produce of market gardens, $31,983; of forest products, $7,965; of home manufactures, $131,693; of animals slaughtered or sold for slaughter, $520,966; of all live stock, $5,212,157. There were on farms 11,902 horses, 8,835 mules and asses, 61,922 milch cows, 6,292 working oxen, 322,-701 other cattle, 26,599 sheep, and 158,908 swine. The chief productions were 2,225,056 bushels of Indian corn, 114.204 of oats, 64,-846 of peas and beans, 10,218 of Irish and 789,456 of sweet potatoes, 39,789 bales of cotton, 401,687 lbs. of rice, 157,405 of tobacco, 37.562 of wool, 100,984 of butter, 50,884 of honey, 6,052 of wax, 952 hogsheads of sugar, and 344,339 gallons of molasses.

The total number of manufacturing establishments in 1870 was 659, having 126 steam engines of 3,172 horse power and 79 water wheels of 528 horse power, and employing 2,749 hands, of whom 2,670 were males above the age of 16. The capital invested amounted to $1,679,930; wages paid during the year, $989,592; value of materials used, $2,330,873; of products. $4,-685,403. The leading industries were 138 flouring and grist mills, which had $119,075 capital invested, and from $411,857 of materials yielded products valued at $508,388; 104 establishments for sawing lumber, with 69 steam engines of 2,487 horse power and 1,116 hands; capital, $755,090; wages paid, $421,820; value of materials $1,163,238, of products $2,235,780. There were 27 establishments for the manufacture of molasses and sugar, whose products were valued at $41,510. The fisheries of Florida might be of great value, but as yet this industry has been but slightly developed. According to the census of 1870, the value of the fisheries for that year was $101,528.-Florida has seven ports of entry: Appalachicola, Fer-nandina, Key West, Pensacola, St. Augustine, St. John's, and St. Mark's. The value of the imports from foreign countries for the year ending June 30, 1873, was $505,571, and of the domestic exports $2,984,975. Of the former $389,054 were entered at Key West, and of the latter $1,591,532 were from the port of Pensacola. The chief articles of export are lumber, cotton, tobacco, and fish.

The number and tonnage of vessels entering from and clear-ing for foreign countries, and of those registered, enrolled, and licensed at the different ports, were as follows:

The coasting trade is also very extensive, employing numerous steamers, which with other craft carry immense freights to Savannah, Charleston, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York. But a large portion of the material exported from Pensacola and Appalachicola originates in southern Alabama and southwestern Georgia. The great bulk of foreign merchandise consumed in the state is also entered coastwise, chiefly from the northern ports. The number of vessels that entered and cleared in the coastwise trade during the year ending June 30, 1873, was as follows:

Ship building is carried on at all of these ports. During the year 14 vessels of 241 tons were built.-In 1873 there were 466 m. of railroad in Florida. The Jackson, Pensacola, and Mobile railroad extends W. from Jacksonville across the X. part of the state, and is intended to afford direct communication with Pensacola and Mobile. In 1873 it was in operation from Jacksonville to the Chattahoochee river, 209 m. The Florida branch extends from Live Oak N, to Lawton, Ga., on the Atlantic and Gulf railroad, and another branch extends S. from Tallahassee to St. Mark's. The Atlantic, Gulf, and West India Transit company's railroad connects Fernandina on the Atlantic and Cedar Keys on the gulf, 155 m. The St. John's River railroad extends from St. Augustine to Tocoi on St. John's river, 14 m., where connection is made with steamers to Jacksonville. The Pensacola and Louisville railroad extends from Pensacola to Pollard, Ala., on the Mobile and Montgomery railroad, 45 m.-The legislative authority is vested in a senate and assembly, designated the "legislature of the state of Florida." There are now 53 representatives and 24 senators. The sessions are annual, beginning on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of January, and may extend to 60 days.