FLOWERS OF THE FAR NORTH 137 



duller surroundings ; while, in that moist air of 

 diffused rainbows, the dull shades themselves 

 became marvellously bright. The changes to 

 beauty were sudden as surprising. On the rude 

 background of untamed Orkney, beyond the crofts, 

 I have seen atmospheric effects like the flush of 

 distant flowers, only lovelier and brighter. 



If the crops were thus thin, the space between 

 the stalks was fully occupied for better or worse, 

 according to the point of view. What was lacking 

 in use had been given over to beauty. I never 

 saw so many cornflowers. 



The fields were simply inlaid with heartsease 

 not the ordinary long -stalked, small-flowered 

 field variety of the south, scarce deserving to rank 

 above a weed. Round as a sixpence, with space 

 for each of the shades to come distinctly out, they 

 were such flowers as we find on the dry short turf 

 here, and even larger than our best. 



All this would seem to show that our field violet 

 is simply the miserable outcome of competition 

 with the taller and stronger grain. If the hearts- 

 ease first came here as a wild flower of cultivation, 

 it must have been as it appears in the meadows or 

 on these Orkney crofts, and it has slowly de- 

 generated with improved methods. 



