OVERLAND TO LA ESPERANZA 15 



exceedingly rich and contains the peculiar quali- 

 ties necessary for growth of the finest grades of 

 aromatic tobaccos. Tobacco fincas (farms) are 

 everywhere seen with growing crops covered by 

 great tents of cheesecloth. At Herradura are 

 met the large fruit farms of an American colony. 

 The even rows of well-kept trees are agreeably 

 suggestive of home orchards. It is only when the 

 American houses of the town come into view that 

 an unpleasant impression is gained. Pine board 

 habitations, without a redeeming architectural 

 feature, contrast unfavorably with the native 

 Cuban houses, which, however primitive, have a 

 certain charm for foreign eyes and seem better 

 adapted to the needs of the climate. 



The royal palms {Roystonea regia) are to Cuba 

 what elms are to New England, poplars to Nor- 

 mandy, and her great towering pines to Norway, 

 only, as Artemus Ward would add, they are more 

 so. One can hardly conceive of a Cuban landscape 

 without them. They are the botanic glory of the 

 island. Although introduced into other countries 

 where climate and soil are suitable, yet they never 

 appear quite so well as in their native soil. Here, 

 in attaining their full development, they represent 



