CORRESPONDENCE AND INFORMATION. 



27 



amining these lowly plants under dif- 

 ferent conditions of moisture and light. 

 1 am reminded also of the wide range 

 of often brilliant dyes which are ob- 

 tainable from lichens. Some of these 



THE CUP LICHENS AMONG THE MOSSES 



were used by the Scotch for their 

 plaids. Nowadays about the only 

 lichen dye much used is the blue 

 litmus of the chemical laboratory; but 

 perhaps it may interest some of your 

 readers to know of a simple way of 

 obtaining a variety of colors from our 

 common lichens. To some water in 

 a small bottle add enough ammonia to 

 give it a rather strong" pungent odor, 

 then introduce into this some of the 

 lichen which has been powdered or 

 broken into small bits. Cork the bottle 

 tightly, and allow* it to stand for a few- 

 hours or days, shaking it occasionally 

 In some cases a strong color will ap- 

 pear immediately. I can especially" re- 

 commend for trial the scarlet-fruited 

 Cladonias, and some of the flat lichens 

 growing upon rocks: but any form is 

 worth trying and may yield quite un- 

 expected results. 



Frederick LkRov Sargent. 



A Reply to "It Interests Children." 



Washington, Connecticut. 

 To in e Editor: 



The apparently popular belief that 

 nature study is only interesting to 

 children and the unreasonableness of 

 otherwise intelligent individuals of 

 what nature study for adults consists 

 are two big difficulties, which other 

 teacher naturalists, as well as the 

 Editor of The Guide to Nature, have 

 had to contend with and perhaps a 

 few words from a reader, who is also 

 a contributor to the columns of this 

 worthy magazine, may throw a little 

 light on this dark subject. 



I firmly believe there is no line in 

 nature study where the child's inter- 

 est ends and the adult's begins. Of 

 course there is something in the 

 manner of presenting material, but to 

 write about the outdoor world for 

 "grown ups," in so clear a manner 

 that the intelligent child may com- 

 prehend and be interested, is indeed 

 a rare art. The man who declared 

 "The Guide to Nature too childish," 

 unwittingly paid the magazine in 

 question a fine compliment. 



I well remember .my disgust as a 

 young girl when I remarked to an 

 intelligent, gray haired friend that I 

 should like to write articles for the 

 magazines about the things which 

 interested me and she replied, "Why 

 perhans you could just for children!" 

 Now I have no happier experience than 

 when I have successfully written a 

 nature article just for a child, for it 

 is a far more difficult task than to 

 write for "grown ups." Many a suc- 

 cessful author of children's tales will 

 agree with me on this point. An in- 

 telligent child is an honest and unspar- 

 ing critic and nature fake study does 

 not appeal to him. The child, "who 

 is father of the man," is nearer to 

 the heart of nature and knows what 

 he wants. Surely there is something 

 wrong -with our foundations when we 

 cannot enjoy a good periodical like 

 The Guide to Nature. A continued 

 diet of chocolate creams will destroy 

 one's appetite for a sound meal. We 

 have had so many dollar magazines, 

 which only deal with our money 



