Almond and cherry orchards are particularly attractive  tunity to test our
photographic skill. The shadows of the 
here when in bloom. I have seen hundreds of orchards in  trees on the road,
however, were almost at direct angle with 
bloom in the Northwest, and I think the                                 our
viewpoint, so we had to wait an 
 
Banning orchards, while of a different 
variety, are equally as magnificent. 
In driving about the country we finally 
selected an old orchard, unkempt but dis- 
playing a profusion of bloom, with a 
snow-capped mountain range as a back- 
ground. Running up one of the rows of 
trees were some well-defined wagon tracks 
which I used as a center of interest. There 
were just enough weeds, grass, and rock 
 
hour for the sun to point in the right 
direction. 
While waiting, a curious old man came 
up and wanted to know what we were 
doing. I told him and he was immedi- 
ately interested, finally suggesting that 
we go out on the desert and photograph 
the purple sage, which was in flower. I 
made a few notations as to directions and 
thanked him. Before long we were speed- 
 
in the foreground of the setting to render    THE POET'S BROOD          
   ing along on the broad cement highway 
tone gradation for color values, all of                                 
   in order that we might reach the Land of 
which added to the general perspective.     Be still, my little unfledged
thoughts:  the Purple Sage and make an exposure 
Bide in the nest a vSee. 
While the finished picture of this particu-  (0, Mother of all things that
live,  before the light failed. We found light- 
lar exposure would not be classified as     Keep down the pride in me!) 
   ing conditions favorable and made the 
a well-cultivated orchard, it is one which  Unfeathered ones, lean on my
heart,  exposure. As we packed up for our re- 
is greatly admired. After finishing our     Stay till your wings have grown.
 turn home we concluded this to be the 
(And help me, when they leave me, 
work here we drove to the hillside and        Lord,                     
   end of one of the most perfect days we had 
turned off the main thoroughfare. Here      To count them not my own!)  
   ever spent outdoors. We had thoroughly 
we experienced another great surprise.                  -P. p. Strachan.
    enjoyed blossom-time and given it per- 
The road was lined with Italian cypress                                 
    petuity in picture form, that others less 
and almond trees in bloom. These two species, growing as   fortunate than
ourselves might be encouraged to plan a 
they were, presented a striking effect. The cypress trees  "blossom-tour"
some time in the future. Things that grow 
were fully twenty feet tall, and the almond branches, with  and display their
beauty at seasonable times should receive 
their showy blossoms jutting out their loveliness across the  unreserved
recognition and appreciation. God-given beauty 
green base of every cypress, gave us a wonderful oppor-    in outdoor life
is inspirational and extremely educational. 
 
WILD     LIFE    IN   A-FIRE 
(Continued from page 324) 
 
during the time of the fire, or dying as a result of injuries 
suffered. The indirect results are frequently more disastrous 
than the direct. 
Fires cause dangerous concentrations of game. In an 
area approximately three miles square on the eastern edge 
of Wood County, adjacent to the burned area, ninety-three 
deer were counted in a single afternoon early in the winter 
following the fire. This concentration was not the "yarding- 
up" as deer do not congregate in "yards" in mild winters.

Sharp-tailed grouse, prairie chickens, and ruffed grouse 
have concentrated by the thousands along the ditch banks 
and in the few unburned "islands." Rabbits and other 
small animals have likewise concentrated. 
The very presence of large numbers of game animals or 
birds attracts predators. The predator situation becomes 
particularly serious after a fire because the mice and other 
normal food of foxes, coyotes, hawks and owls are practi- 
cally exterminated in burned districts. This makes the 
predators turn more than ever to game animals and birds. 
Another disastrous indirect effect of forest fires is the 
destruction of food and cover. The beaver situation in this 
area is typical. Few beaver were actually killed in the 
fire because of their ability to escape by their water routes, 
but their food has been entirely consumed. 
The Conservation   Commission has established many 
feeding stations for birds in the burned area. Prairie 
chickens, sharp-tailed grouse, and other ground feeding 
birds have fed every day from the special automatic feed 
hoppers with which every station was equipped. 
Fires have a serious effect on game reproduction. Many 
birds and animals, while not actually killed, are rendered 
impotent or inefficient because of weakened condition. 
 
Large concentrations of game, caused by fire, likewise have 
a harmful effect on reproduction because the individuals 
do not pair. 
This one fire which burned in such excellent game coun- 
try in central Wisconsin in 1930 may have been more 
destructive to animal, bird and fish life than normal forest 
fires, but the results which have been related here tell the 
story of what happens in greater or lesser degree in every 
forest, marsh, or field fire. 
The effect of fire varies according to the season in which 
it burns. Early spring fires are particularly disastrous to 
the mating activities of game birds. Fires later in the spring 
destroy nesting birds or young birds and animals. Fall 
fires play havoc with the food and cover necessary for the 
game to survive the approaching winter. Fires always do 
more damage to game than to game's predators, as these 
animals and birds are better able to take care of themselves 
than are the game animals and birds. 
Statistics on fire causes show that a comparatively small 
percentage result from logging activities, indicating that 
men whose livelihood depends on the woods are more 
careful of them. Similarly there are usually fewer fires on 
Indian reservations than surrounding them. America's old- 
est outdoorsman is careful. Carelessness with fire in the 
woods marks the tenderfoot. 
The whole effect of forest fires is probably more destruc- 
tive to game than the sum total of all hunting and fishing 
law violations. Sportsmen can do nothing which will do 
more to perpetuate their sport than to prevent forest fires. 
America's out-of-doors is a heritage to keep, protect and 
enjoy. 
 
June, 1931 
 
360