31
 months at the period of most rapid growth. It is equally
 advantageous, however, during the manufacturing period,
 to have a dry season. For this reason the period of the man-
 ufacture of sugar in Florida has many advantages over the
 same time of year in Louisiana."
 "In Louisiana, especially after November, the planter is
 exposed to frequent and protracted rains, rendering the fields
 muddy, and the roads over which the cane is to be hauled
 almost impassable. The Florida planter can confidently
 count on a continuous manufacturing season, being rarely
 interrupted by rains. ** In regard to temperature,
 equally favorable conditions obtain. The climat-
 ic conditions of temperature, therefore, in this respect ap-
 proach those of the island of Cuba. This being true of the
 central portion of the peninsula, it is true in a much greater
 degree of the lower portion, viz., the Okeechobee section. In
 this region frosts are almost entirely unknown. The cocoa-
 nut and date palm flourish, and tropical plants of every de-
 scription predominate over the sub-tropical. In this region
 the sugar cane is absolutely free from any danger of frosts,
 although occasionally light frosts have been known to injure
 more delicate plants. It may be said then with confidence
 that in the region of the Lake Okeechobee the lands which
 may be recovered for sugar making purposes have all the ad-
 vantages of the climate of Cuba."
 "The manufacture of sugar from the cane in this region
 may be postponed with perfect safety until the beginning of
 February, and the months of February, March and April be
 of greatest activity in sugar manufacture."
 "Another important consideration in connection with
the muck lands of the Okeechobee country is found in the
method contemplated for their cultivation. These lands will
be intersected by numerous drainage canals, and by means
of these canals not only can the land be cultivated by steam
from engines carried on boats in the canals themselves, but
also the products of the fields can be transported on the same
canal, with an economy which will render the competition of
mule or horse power methods of cultivation almost impossi-
ble."