THE SCILLY ISLANDS never been great fishermen. Shipbuilding was also tried, and seemed to promise well ; but the advent of steamships finally clouded its prospects. At last, about thirty years ago, Mr. Smith sug- gested to his farm-tenants that they should cultivate flowers. A hat-box of narcissi was sent to Covent Garden as a timid experiment. It brought a small return. There were lilies growing here and there on the islands — how they came no one knew ; and some of these were shipped. This was the beginning of a great and growing industry ; the farmers began to realise that almost any part of the British Isles could compete with them in potatoes or ordinary farm produce, but that few or none could compete with their flowers. While Eng- lish farm-lands were lying barren under the frosts or chilling rains of winter, the mild climate of Scilly could produce most exquisite lilies, narcissi and daffodils. The most ethereal and lovely of nature's productions were found to be convertible into hard cash. The demand from Covent Garden can no longer be met by a single hat-box ; the ship Lyonesse has carried to Penzance in one day as many as thirty-eight tons of flowers. If freight charges were more moderate this output might be increased almost beyond limit. Small as the islands are they are large when we regard them as flower-gardens. From Christmas to May is the busiest season ; men, women and children are engaged in tend- ing and gathering, tying and packing. The blooms are grown in square and oblong fields 275
