394 FLOWER MARKET AT NICE. 



certain of a purchaser to take compassion on them. Tlie 

 nearer mid-da^• approaches tlie cheaper are the^• ofiered 

 for sale. Those that are unsold find their way to the 

 rubbish heap. Roses of various colours tilled the bas- 

 kets; bright yellow and soft white Marguerites were 

 heaped upon the tables. Near b^- were large Jris 

 Si/ss/'ana. mottled with grey and deep violet, which tlie 

 gardeners have called ''Lady in mourning". 



Next, in striking contrast, were the snow-white 

 Ethiopian Zantedeschias (Z. aclliiopicu), which we know 

 as Calla aethiopica, and often grow in our rooms at home. 

 Yellowish-brown Wallflowers, double Stocks of all shades, 

 large ^'iolets, Freesias and the allied 1 ^^'acinths, Nar- 

 cissi, Tazettas and Jonciuils, filled the air with their frag- 

 rance, while among them large bunches of dark blue 

 Cornflowers were conspicuous. Besides these there were 

 Pinks of extraordinary size, and brilliantly coloured Anem- 

 ones on everA' stall; and lastly close by there were 

 baskets lilled with sprays of orange blossom. 



We u'alked up and down between all these flowers, 

 unable to take our e^'es off them, and undecided as to 

 which we preferred. When a purchase was at last de- 

 cided upon, a crowd of women surrounded us offering 

 their services as carriers. And even when the basket 

 was filled to overflowing the temptation to buy something 

 more was hard to resist ! 



In front of the Nice churches, even on this morning, 

 a brisk sale was being carried on. In the fashionable 

 parts of the town they were selling etiolated Palm fronds 

 with plaited pinnae, also crosses made of the same. 15e- 



