PLANTS OF THE KARROO. 49 



and, pretty as they are, it is useless to attempt carry- 

 ing them home, for they close up and fade as soon as 

 they are gathered. 



Indeed, nearly all the flowers in that part of the 

 world are unsatisfactory ; and those few among them 

 which will keep for a very short time in water are 

 almost useless for table decorations, as they seem in- 

 capable of adapting themselves to any sort or form of 

 flower- vase. They are pretty enough in themselves ; 

 but the large, thick, stubborn stems, all out of propor- 

 tion with the flowers, refuse to bend themselves to any 

 graceful form or combination ; they all seem starting 

 away from one another in an angular, uncomfortable 

 manner, and of course any pretty arrangement of 

 flowers which will not arrange themselves is impossible. 

 Our thoughts often went back longingly to the flowers 

 of Walmer, compared with which prolific region the 

 Karroo is poverty indeed. 



A cineraria, very nearly as large as the cultivated 

 varieties, and of a beautiful deep blue, on which the 

 Dutch have bestowed the euphonious name of hlaauw- 

 blometje (little blue flower), several tiny irises, and a 

 rather rare bulb, the hyacinth-like blossoms of which, 

 as well as the upper part of the stalk, are of a lovely 

 tint between scarlet and deep rose-colour, and all 

 soft and velvety in texture, are among our prettiest 

 flowers. 



Then there are the mimosa's balls of soft, sweet- 

 scented yellow fringe, perfuming the air all round for 

 a long distance, and making the trees seem all of gold 



