HOMES NEAR TO NATURE 



197 



Separated by a high ridge of granite 

 on Dr. Morris's estate are two valleys 

 about half a mile apart. Through the 

 eastern valley rushes the rocky Mianus 

 River. The western valley begins at 

 a swamp surrounded by cliffs, and 

 where its smaller stream leaves the 

 swam]) at a narrow defile between 

 steep ledges a dam has just been con- 

 structed for transforming the swam]) 

 into a lake of about twelve acres, to be 

 devoted to experimental culture of nut 

 bearing aquatic plants like Trapa and 

 Nelumbo, which furnish food for so 

 many people of the Orient. After leav- 

 ing Merribrooke the stream passes on 



to make the lake for .Mr. Seton at 

 Wyndygoul. 



5jC *i- *T» *p *l* ^h 



TllkKK PHOTOGRAPHS BY MR. I'lKKSoN. 



The two photographs on the previous 



page, and the upper one ( View from 

 Porch) on page [89, were taken by Mr. 

 Richard X. Pierson, of Stamford. The 

 others are by the writer of this article. 

 When Mr. Pierson's photograph of the 

 site of the new lake was shown to Dr. 

 Morris, he remarked: 



"it is just completed, and this is the 

 last time this land will ever be seen. The 

 lake is to be devoted to nut-bearing 

 aquatic plants like Trapa and Nelum- 

 bium." 



^r^ 





When we plant a tree, we are doing what we can 

 to make our planet a more wholesome and happier 

 dwelling-place for those who come after us, if not for 

 ourselves. — Oliver Wendell Holmes. 



