and we concluded we bad done as unwisely as most do, by leaving Cuba too 

 early. 



On the 3d of March, at Charleston, vegetation was much more forward than in 

 the higher regions of Georgia on the 10th of April. Peach-trees were in bloom, 

 and tomatoes of considerable height, but a cold night or two had injured the 

 fruit, and the orange-trees looked discouraged. We noticed, at Charleston, many 

 plants and shrubs living in the open air, that, if we could possess, our gardens 

 would equal almost any in the world ; among these, the Gloria-mundi, or Laurus 

 cerasus, and the Magnolia grandiflora, were the most striking and useful as orna- 

 ments; one of the latter, in a town garden, is forty feet in height. Considerable 

 attention is paid here to gardening, but less than the climate would pay for ; grass 

 is not very successful, even with great care, and here we bade adieu to that luxury 

 of the eye in the colder North, for many weeks. 



Our party (now a large one) enjoyed the trip down the Florida coast greatly, 

 though the weather continued cold till we reached the latitude of the Bahamas. 

 The following sketch presents characteristic views of the coast, the palmetto here, 

 the highest object, and the everlasting solitude of the beach. 



CAPE FLORIDA. 



St. Augustine was passed, but not seen. Generally, we were near the coast, 

 which fatigues by its monotony, but this is entirely obliterated by the scenery and 

 vegetation which presents itself at Key West, in novel forms to a Northerner who 

 visits this region for the first time. Most of the productions of Cuba flourish 

 here in perfection. A worn-out mind, accustomed to the wintry winds of Penn- 

 sylvania and the North, may here fairly and fully enjoy a new sensation in his 

 first glance at the glorious palm-trees. 



As we neared the wharf in early morning, all the travellers were on deck, in 

 full rig for a run on the dry land, but we were not all fully prepared for the scene 

 that rapidly came in view. "What tree is tludV exclaimed a dozen tongues at 

 once. "Oh! how beautiful I" "glorious, indeed !" was heardfrom every quarter, as the 

 ostrich-like plumes of the cocoa-palm waved in graceful beauty in a tropical breeze, 

 and displayed the nuts hanging in their various stages of growth, from the flower 

 to the full-grown fruit. We all made rapid steps to get a near view ; they were 

 ])lanted near the wharves, and having but lately come into bearing, presented the 

 appearance of the handsomest shade tree we had ever conceived of. When more 



