The climate of s.e. Louisiana is to some extent malarious; but the northern and western sections arc healthful, and much visited by consurnptives, who are generally benefited by a residence there. By careful attention to sanitary laws New Orleans has become far more healthful than it formerly was. Owing to the prevalence of northern -winds, the winter months in Louisiana are more severe than in other regions of a corm sponding latitude. The summers are long and hot. The mean annual temperature at New Orleans is about 67° ; that of the warmest month, 82°: of the coldest, 46°. The Mississippi, one of the largest rivers in the world, has a course of nearly 600 tn. in the state.
The Red river eaters the n.e. corner of the state from Arkansas and flows in a s.e.
direction till it reaches the Mississippi some 40 m. below Natchez. Near its mouth it receives the Washita, which also enters the state from Arkansas and flows almost due south. Its other affluents are the Dugdemona. the Sabine bayou, and the Bastineau river and lake. The Sabine river forms in part the. western boundary of the state. The Pearl, the Tangipahoa, Tickfaw, and Amite are the principal streams e. of the Missis sippi. There are besides several large bayous and estuaries, which are but secondary raouths of the Mississippi. The chief of these are the Atchafalaya, with its series of lakes, the Vermillion, the bayou Teche, bayou de Large, and bayou. la Fourche. Lakes Pontchartrain, Borgne, 3.1aurepas, Sabine, Calcasieu, Mermenteau, Grand, Marsh, Charles, Grand Cheniere, Callon, etc., are all estuarles, their waters being salt from communication with the gulf of -Mexico, and connected with rivers or bayous. The islands off the coast produce sea-island cotton of the finest quality.
The wild animals of the state are the black bear, wolf, panther, wild-cat, raccoon, otter, polecat, opossum, squirrel, etc.; the alligator inhabits the bayous. Among the reptiles are the rattlesnake, horned-frog, lizard, viper, moccasin snake. etc. Among the birds are the gray and bald eagle, the king vulture, the turkey buzzard, hawk, owl, gull, pelican, crane, heron. wild-turkey, wild-goose, pigeon, wild-duck, ete.
The number of acres of improved farm lan-cl. in 1870 was 2,045,640; cash value of farms, $68,275,420; estimated value of all farm products, *52,006,622. The value of farm implements and machinery in 1870 was $7,159,333; wages paid during the year, $11,042,789; value of orchard products, $142,129; of produce of market gardens, $176, 969; wheat product, 9,906 bush.; corn, 7,596,628 bush.; sweet potatoes, 1,023,706
bush; rice, 15,854,012 lbs.; wool, 140,428 lbs.; cotton, 350,832 bales: milk sold, 833,928 galls.; cane molasses, 4,585;150 galls.; cane sugar, 80,706 hogsheads. The number of pounds of sugar raised in several successive years and the yalue thereof aro thus stated: 1875-76 165,450,000 lbs., valued at $11,578,000; 1876-77, 194,964,000 lbs. valued at $15,646,000; 1877-78, 149,469,000 lbs., valued at $9,007,000. The proCluct of molasses in 1877-78 was 13,576,374 galls. The rice crop of 1877 was 140, 785 bbls.; that of 1877-78, 157,770 bbls. The orange crop is becoming important, but there are no accurate statistics of its increase. The cotton product of 1872 WaS 434,000 bales; that of 1877, 645,000 bales. The sugar crop of 1877 was 208.841 hogsheads. The manufactures of the state, aside from sugar, are not very extensive. In 1870 there were 2,557 establishments, including the sugar mills on the plantations; capital invested, $18,313,974; wages paid, $4,593,470; value of products, $24,161,905, of which sum $10,341,858 was credited to sugar alone. The other branches of manufacture were: lumber, bakery products, iron-eastings. tobacco and cigars, clothing, flouring mill prod ucts, railroad cars, machinery, cotton-seed oil, ship-buildin,.. and malt liquors. Since 1870, 2 cotton factories and 5 sugar refineries have been established. The assessment of property for taxation in 1878-79 was estimated at $177,000,000.
In domestic and foreign exports, Louisiana ranks next to "New York, Its exports of domestic products for the year ending ,Tune 30, 1874, were valued at $93,478,513. The imports of 1874 were estimated at $14,548,056. The value of inward-bound coastwise cargoes to New Orleans in 1872 was $160,000,000. The coastwise and foreign trade together amount probably to not less than $400,000,000 annually. In 1874, 2,928 vessels entered the ports of the state, having an aggregate tonnage of 1,640,676 tons, and being manned by 51,864 persons. In the same year 3,042 vessels cleared from the same ports, with an aggregate tonnage of 1,743,312 tons, and manned by 49,956 men. The domestic exports from New Orleans for the year ending June 30, 1879, were valued at $63,624, 797; the imports for the same period amounted to $7,141,989. The increase in the depth of water at the mouths of the Mississippi, by means of jetties, has had a visible effect upon the commerce of New Orleans.