THE OUTDOOR WORLD 



175 



of wildness and also of a human pres- 

 ence studying- that wikhiess, a combina- 

 tion found in comparative few photo- 

 grai^lis. A picture of a brook may be 

 void of human interest, but here are 

 shown ripphng waters that have a mean- 

 ing for mankind. It is not only a beauti- 

 ful piece of nature work but an artistic 

 portrayal. The man by the rock is nice- 

 ly posed, yet he is not made conspicuous 

 in the slightest degree, still his presence 

 gives the picture a dreamy human effect. 

 Neither is the tent made too prominent. 

 There is not one photographer in a hun- 

 dred, perhaps in a thousand, that would 

 not have directed that man to stand out 

 in the open, or have said, "I will get a 

 different point of view so as better to 

 show our tent," or, 'T want the brook 

 alone to show wild nature for herself," 

 but wild nature for herself does not 

 mean anything. I must frankly confess 

 that there is wild nature in many parts of 

 tlie world in which we. as nature lovers, 

 have not the slightest interest for the 

 reason that it is unexplored and unknown 

 and is voi4 of every human element. 



Let those photographers that are de- 

 luging us with scenic views that contain 

 not the slightest particle of human inter- 

 est, give careful study to this photo- 

 graph. Civilization has not marred it 

 and yet mankind is not left out. Do not 

 give it merely a passing glance. Study 

 it for five minutes, look at it intently, and 

 you will learn much about the partner- 

 ship of humanity with wild nature. 



Why the Purple Florets? 



Grantwood, X. J. 

 To the Editor : 



When I receive my copy of The G. to 

 N., I read it from cover to cover. Among 

 the other good things in the October issue, 

 is the mention of an exceptionally tall wild 

 carrot. I have written to Miss Worrell 

 for a few of the seed-heads, and I hope 

 to raise some plants even taller than hers, 

 if rich soil will do it. It might prove an 

 interesting experiment for you, too. 



An attempt to increase the height, 

 might result in something more important 

 than the mere eratifving of the experi- 

 menter's curiosity. To me, the lace-like 

 umbels, these clusters of "Queen Ann's 

 Lace," are more beautiful in their daintv, 

 foam-like delicacv, than manv of our cul- 

 tivated and highly-prized flowers. If I 



should be entirely frank in expressing my 

 opinion, I would say that I like the simple 

 wild flowers better than the forced and 

 deformed specimens from the shops of the 

 fiorist. 



Another peculiarity of the wild carrot 

 pertains to the blossom rather than to the 

 height. Probably you have noticed that 

 each umbel carries one, sometimes more 

 than one purple floret at its center. It is 

 only the exceptional head that is without 

 one. I can surmise no reason for this 

 condition of things, but there must be a 

 reason. I should like to know what it is. 

 Perhaps some of your readers may know. 

 If they do not, an effort to ascertain 

 might afford them considerable entertain- 

 ment. 



Sincerely, 



Clement B. Davis. 



Deer Plentiful and Tame. 



Stamford, Connecticut. 

 To the Editor : 



The deer have been hiding and peep- 

 ing at us all summer until they grew bold 

 in their patronage of an enticing corn- 

 field in the river meadow on the Horton 

 estate. The meadow is in full view of 

 our porch, so imagine the delight of the 



VERY TAME WILD DEER. 



children who one morning saw them play- 

 ing on the other side of the hedge, not 

 thirty feet away ! They were not at all 

 worried by the children's merriment, 

 though they paused to investigate, "with 

 antlers lifted" and "nostrils to windward." 

 We were delighted to learn a few weeks 

 later that Mr. Morehouse, our neighbor 

 across the road, had succeeded in snap- 

 ping them with his camera. 



Verv truly and sincerely, 

 (Mrs.) Clara Hoyt Lock wood. 



