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THE GUIDE T< ) NATURE 



^ The La Rue Holmes Nature Lovers League I 



By George Kingle, Summit, New Jersey 



"The Guide to Nature" is the official organ of the LaRue Holmes Nature League. It is im- 

 portant, for the general League interest, that the magazine be liberally supported, through the active 

 cooperation of League members — George Klingle. 



L. H. Nature League Motto: "Self-sacrifice; heroism for another." 



Are you wondering to what plant 

 to secure artistic effect on that trellis, 

 unpicturesque fence, or little dead co- 

 nifer? Try planting gourds. Plant plenty 

 and many kinds, you may then, possibly 

 have a point of interest to which you 

 may introduce callers. 



We would suggest that residents of 

 New Jersey, who are interested in 

 bird-life, keep on the watch for the 

 evening grosbeak around berry-bear- 

 ing trees. It has recently been re- 

 corded as having been seen at Plain- 

 field, and may take a freak to fur- 

 ther invade the state. The last re- 

 cord, previous to the recent one, was 

 at Summit in 1890, the year when this 

 erratic and beautiful bird visited New 

 England, in considerable numbers, and 

 was met by such barbaric slaughter. 



"Summer" Birds in Winter. 



How is it about our bird friends this 

 season? Has there been anything 

 peculiar in the winter which has in- 

 vited some to remain with us that usu- 

 ally seek mild climates while our 

 winter storms beat? The following are 

 among my recent records : December 

 14, a song sparrow at my window on 

 the breakfast-shelf. December 16, a 

 hermit thrush to dine with us yester- 

 day and today. December 18, for three 

 days an ovenbird has been coming back 

 and forth at my window. Of course, 

 we have woodpeckers, juncos, nut- 

 hatches, chickadees and little brown 

 creepers, but why are the summer birds 

 with us? 



I have known of song sparrows 

 wintering in neighboring places, but 

 have never before seen one earlier than 

 February 27. 



Recently Elected Officers. 

 New Providence Chapter, N. J.: Pres- 

 ident, Gerald Ward ; Vice President, 

 Theodore Slade; Secretary, Ora Wel- 

 born ; Treasurer, Creighton Thompson. 

 Potwin Chapter, Summit, N. J : Presi- 

 dent, Lucille Whitehead ; Vice Presi- 

 dent Dorothy Jean Pettis; Secretary, 

 Katherine Grow ; Treasurer, Orlando 

 Underwood. 



The Devastation of Forests. 



If you are truely a nature lover you 

 hear across the winds the ring of thou- 

 sands of axes, swinging in forests 

 which the nation has tried to save, but 

 which our representatives in Congress 

 have, so far doomed to destruction. 



If you are truly a nature lover you 

 await, a bit breathlessly, the hour when 

 the demands of this nation's intelligent 

 element shall be respected, and the ring 

 of the axe be hushed in the Appalach- 

 ian and White Mountain forests. But 

 what are you doing, or intending to do 

 individually, to hasten the time? Will 

 you give an hour of your life in help- 

 ing to deluge the men at the helm, in 

 this matter, with expressions of senti- 

 ment in behalf of the preservation of 

 the grandeur of our forests; of the 

 industries nearing their death-throes 

 through the destruction of the steady 

 power of the water ways ; of the tillers 

 of hitherto fertile fields now being im- 

 poverished through the debris from de- 

 forested mountain sides? Will you 

 dedicate an hour, now and then, to 

 talking up with your neighbor, induc- 

 ing him to lend a hand? Do you use 

 your pen, if you have a right hand and 

 send your appeal beyond the area of 

 your spoken words ? 



If you are a nature lover the ring of 

 the axes comes to you in echoes. Help 

 to hush them. 



