EDITOR'S TABLE. 



Cuba. — "We have an eye to this paradise of aa island, and make the following interesting 

 extracts from a new work published in Boston, written by Maturin M. Ballou, entitled 

 " History of Cuba, or Notes of a Traveler in the tropics,^'' one of the most reliable and 

 agreeable books of the kind we have ever met with. It is full of information , and though 

 we regret that the writer has no botanical or scientific knowledge, his descriptions of tlie 

 climate and vegetation are graphic and pleasing. lie has a fine eye for the beauties of 

 nature : 



A Coffee Plantation. — The Coffee plant requires some shade, and hence the plantations are 

 diversified by alternate rows of Bananas and other useful and ornamental tropical shrubs and 

 plants. It is one of the most beautiful gardens that can well be conceived, in its variety and 

 beauty baffling correct description, being one of those peculiar characteristics of the low lati- 

 tudes which must be seen to be understood. An estate devoted to this purpose usually covers 

 some 300 acres of land, planted in regular squares of eight acres, and intersected by broad 

 alleys of Palms, Oranges, (fee, tfec. Mingled with these are planted Lemons, Pomegranates, 

 Cape Jasmins, and a species of wild Heliotrope, fragrant as the morning. Conceive of this 

 beautiful arrangement and then of the whole when in flower ; the Coffee with its milk-white 

 blossoms, so abundant that it seems as though a pure white cloud of snow had fallen there and 

 left the rest of the vegetation fresh and green. Interspersed in these fragrant alleys is the red 

 of the Mexican Eose, the flowering Pomegranate, and the large gaudy flower of the Penon 

 shrouding its parent stem in a cloak of scarlet, with wavings here and there of the graceful 

 yellow flag, and many bewitchingly fragrant wild flowers, twining their tender stems about the 

 base of these. In short, a Coffee plantation is a perfect floral el dorado, with every luxury 

 (except ice) the heart could wish. 



Rank. — "The Sugar-planter, the Coffee-planter, the merchant, the liberal professions and the 

 literati (this last a meagre class in numbers), stand about in the order in which we have written 

 them, as regards their relative degrees of social position, but wealth has the same charm here 

 as in every part of Christendom. 



Productions. — "The agriculturists confine their attention almost solely to the raising of Sugar, 

 Coffee and Tobacco, almost entirely neglecting Indian Corn, and but slightly attending to the 

 varieties of the Orange. It is scarcely credible that, when the generous soil produces from two 

 to three crops annually, the vegetable wealth of this island should be so poorly developed. It 

 is capable of supporting a population of almost any density, and yet the largest estimate gives 

 onlj' a million and a half of inhabitants. On treading the fertile soil, and on beholding the 

 clustering fruits offered on all sides, the delicious Oranges, the perfumed Pine Apples, the lus" 

 cious Bananas, the cooling Cocoa Nuts, and other fruits for which our language has no name, 

 we are struck with the thought of how much Providence, and how little man, has done for this 

 Eden of the Gulf. We long to see it peopled by men who can appreciate the gifts of nature, 

 men who are willing to do their part in reward for her bounty, men who will meet her half 

 way and second her spontaneous efforts. Kowhere on the face of the globe would intelligent 

 labor meet with a richer reward — nowhere on the face of the globe would repose from labor be 

 so sweet. The hour of rest sinks upon the face of nature with a peculiar charm ; the night 

 breeze comes with its gentle breeze to fan the weary frame, and no danger lurks in its career.'' 



There are many reasons why we should be glad to see our enterprising citizens in pos- 

 session (peaceable) of tliis glorious island besides political ones. The horticultural points 

 of interest are great indeed; what glorious cargoes would we export to our American 

 cities ! "We heard a smoker give his reasons the other day, as he puffed a fine Havana, 

 thus: — ""Why, yes, we must have it; cigars are too dear!" 



Our author says that superior Pine Apples are sold in the markets at one cent a 

 The most singular of the fruits is the Rose Apple, which, when eaten, has the peculi 



