

A TRIP TO CUBA AND THE SOUTHERN STATES. 



those who onpht to be nhle to form a jiKljrment, at fifteen millions of our money. 

 It was a season of drought, but the liij^li ])riees, and inereascd saccharine matter 

 in the smaller canes, had much more than made up for the deficiency. The Cul)an 

 l)Iantcrs have this advantajre over those of Louisiana, that the cane-roots survive 

 from year to year. In our country, jdantiujz; is necessary every season ; this is 

 expensive, and the youn^ plant sometimes " catches a cold," as a Cubau termed 

 it when descanting' on this fact. 



The attention of most visitors is much given to the processes of making sugar, 

 in which vast improvements and economy liave latterly been introduced. The ear 

 becomes soon familiar with the words representing new air-tight conilensers, and 

 with the names of the most celebrated estates, in which the Brothers Arietta make 

 a prominent figure, their estates being understood to i)resent the best culture 

 :ind the best boiling, &c., no less than the most successful employment of the 

 Chinese workmen. A very handsome folio volume has lately been published in 

 Havana, descriptive of the best sugar estates ; the plates (if we remember, there 

 are fifty-four, well lithographed and colored) are sold together or separately, so 

 that each visitor can bring away characteristic scenes. The whole cost of the 

 book exceeds fifty dollars ; it was purchased by one of the party, for deposit, 

 probably, in one of our best public libraries. It is of course in Spanish. 



Logwood is a product of the island, and the tree is used for hedges, the trim- 

 mings being more or less employed for domestic dyes. Food from the roots of 

 the Yucca and other productions, is prepared on the plantations, but the banana 

 and plantain have superseded the use of the Bread fruit, which was at one period 

 extensively introduced, and is now found growing in gardens, but its product not 

 greatly esteemed or employed. 



In many private gardens, it is usual to see the large citron growing rampantly, 

 bent over arbors, and the fruit hanging down, of an enormous size. "We were 

 allowed to pick one that weighed four pounds and six ounces, and this was by no 

 means the largest. Limes, lemons, and, in short, all the tribe, grow with wonder- 

 ful rapidity, and come into bearing very young ; but there is little commercial 

 demand for the fruit, and it is sparsely cultivated. But what glorious effects might 

 be produced l)y the possession of such ornamental trees and shrubs, in connection 

 with Euphorbias, the Cactus, and a thousand things we value so highly ! As to 

 attempts at ornament in this way, they are the exception, and more rare than is 

 credible. You may see more Camellias in a small northern greenhouse at home, 

 than will greet your eye during your whole visit to Cuba, where they would grow 

 to a great size, and need no more care than anything else ; but there it is so much 

 more easily procured, that what we esteem so highly, is here neglected. 



The best fruits of the country find a good market at the conserve factories, the 

 most resorted to being Dominica's, the proprietor of the fashionable ice cream, 

 or, rather, ice icater shop. He is extensively in the business, and his wares are 

 so toothsome and excellent, that it is a universal thing for American visitors to 

 invest from a hundred dollars, downwards, in the guava and other jellies and con- 

 serves, dried and candied fruit, &c. ; these, and domestic manufactures of the 

 same kind, are also much consumed by the Islanders, who seem to live upon fruit, 

 conserves, and vegetables. Dominica's restaurant is more crowded than any we 

 have ever seen. 



Commercial Gardens. — There are very few of these ; we could hear of but two, 

 one kept by a Frenchman, on the Pasco, who has but little to show, the owner 

 being in poor health. Pedrigal's, however, exhibits a good appearance ; the 

 proprietor s|)eaks Spanish only, and he knows only the Spanish names for his 

 plants. This difficulty meets you everywhere, and all being new, the information 



