THE DESERT AND THE ROSE 107 



within its radius, though about its edge trees and 

 plants thrive in the soil which, strange to say, is 

 always moist. Experiments made with this strange 

 sand prove it to be a wonderful fertilizer, and it is 

 also of value for glass making and plastering. In- 

 dividuals have long used it, but only lately has its 

 serious exploitation been attempted. 



During and after the rainy season, or much 

 earlier in irrigated corners, our own Valley is alight 

 with flowers. In regard to the dozen or more of 

 garden flowers growing wild but a single writer* 

 has alluded to them. The pink lantana is just one 

 of several varieties swarming in fence corners. As 

 for genuine wild flowers, an eastern visitor gathered 

 of yellow ones alone, and that long ere the rainy 

 season, twenty-one varieties, though of course many 

 were what we ranching folk designate as weeds; 

 for a rich land favors weeds, and the gorgeous sun- 

 flower is in some ways the most noxious of all. As 

 we drive along we note entire regiments of these 

 troublesome fellows, whose faces, when the summer 

 breeze blows them backward, resemble nothing so 

 much as round-headed and bald old men, with fly- 

 ing fringes of hair and cherubic smiles. My primal 

 raptures over the artistic effect of golden sunflowers 

 upon a background of blue mountains soon gave 

 way before the practical ranchwoman's struggle 

 with the fittest that survive ; and sometimes it looked 

 as though I were decidedly not the fittest. Sun- 

 flower enthusiasm passed as swiftly as mocking bird 

 enthusiasm is apt to do. One morning a lady at our 

 health resort arrived at the breakfast table in ecstasy. 



*H. O. Ladd. 



