A Sojourn in Cuba 



armed and united plants of the tropics hold their 

 rightful kingdom plantfully, nor, since the first 

 appearance of Lord Man, have they ever suf- 

 fered defeat. 



A large number of Cuba's wild plants circle 

 closely about Havana. In five minutes' walk 

 from the wharf I could reach the undisturbed 

 settlements of Nature. The field of the greater 

 portion of my rambling researches was a strip 

 of rocky common, silent and unfrequented by 

 anybody save an occasional beggar at Nature's 

 door asking a few roots and seeds. This natu- 

 ral strip extended ten miles along the coast 

 northward, with but few large-sized trees and 

 bushes, but rich in magnificent vines, cacti- 

 composites, leguminous plants, grasses, etc. 

 The wild flowers of this seaside field are a 

 happy band, closely joined in splendid array. 

 The trees shine with blossoms and with light 

 reflected from the leaves. The individuality 

 of the vines is lost in trackless, interlacing, 

 twisting, overhe aping union. 



Our American "South" is rich in flowery 

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