406 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. 



appears the main land, presenting a dense forest of pine, 

 which change little in appearance summer or winter, and we 

 have now got nearly round the sound, so far as we can 

 describe from our present position. On our left, on Daw- 

 fuskie Island, and nearly in proximity with this house, is a 

 hummock or clump of cassena and live oaks, nearly in their 

 primitive state ; branches crossing branches, some limbs hang- 

 ing loosely to the ground and sweeping holes in the earth ; 

 vines clambering up and tying limb to limb, branch to branch, 

 and towering over the tops, or, perchance, dangling their 

 slender twigs in the air, all blended together in a confused 

 mass ; yet, how interesting the scene ! It is the handiwork 

 of nature roving in her original wildness, unmangled by 

 the cultivator's knife, and unshaped by cultivated taste ! 



On the side of a walk leading from the house to the beach 

 is a fine row of Yucca acuminata, about seven feet high, which 

 when in flower, has a very pretty appearance, reminding one 

 of a regiment of soldiers with white plumes; but let this 

 suffice for a description of the scenery surrounding the sound. 



Since we commenced to write, a change in the scene has 

 been taking place ; a noise is heard in the distance ; it is the 

 waters breaking over the bar ; it is flood tide and the breeze 

 begins to blow from southeast refreshing and pleasant ; the 

 waters in the sound awaken from their sleepy repose, the 

 winds blow harder, and the waves rus?i on ; they are now 

 dashing angrily around us, and a glow of animation lays hold 

 of the soul as we see this change in the waters ; but, a boat 

 soon appears in sight, with sail spread and drifting finely be- 

 fore the breeze. A row boat attempts to cross the sound, but 

 labors hard and is tossed by the waves, the brawny arms of 

 the oarsmen ache, and they pant for the shore while they row 

 against wind and tide. We have lost sight of the sail-boat, 

 which is now beyond the little island, having gone several 

 miles, while the other makes little or no headway ; but such 

 is life, and I had almost digressed from my subject to moralize, 

 but as I am describing realities, I shall not occupy space which 

 might be devoted to subjects of more interest. 



From this brief sketch it will be seen, that even the low 



