14 RECLAMATION OF CAPE COD SAND DUNES. 



In either case it exerts the same protective influence on the inland 

 veoetiition. It mayor may not remain stationary lonof enoufjh for the 

 forest in the lee to reach its farthest possible extension seaward before 

 its rejiiyenescence causes it to begin its migration inland. 



The moyement inland on the part of the newly formed dune range 

 was probabl}^ neyer extensive, as there is little evidence of its having 

 encroached upon the preceding range. However, the contour of each 

 indicates that it was shifting to some extent before its fixation. It is 

 (juite probable that the ranges were never entireh* bare, as the new 

 accumulations of sand were not so rapid as to prevent the existence of 

 a partial vegetative covering upon the dune range. 



The devastating activities within historic times have destroj^ed any 

 intermediate sta^-es which may have existed between the foredune at 

 present in process of formation on the north shore and the forested 

 dune ranges which lie inland from the thi'cc dune ranges which have 

 been devastated b}' human agencies. It is probable that the forest was 

 never able to develop as far as the beach, owing to the exposure to the 

 severe north winds. However, old forest beds outcropping in places 

 among the unforcsted dunes demonstrate that the forest originally 

 extended much farther seaward than it does at the present time. 



Of the seven dune ranges constituting the body of the extremit}' of 

 the Cape, only the inner four are at present forested. These are badly 

 distorted, but were probably formed as has just l)een indicated, as the 

 irregularities are not greater than could l)e reasonably postulated when 

 the action of the wind during the interval of time which has elapsed 

 since their formation is considered (PI. I). These ranges are covered 

 with a growth of pine and oak, with an occasional beech in the more 

 favored situations. The outer three ranges are covered with scatter- 

 ing growths of beach grass. The depressions between the ranges are 

 characterized by Avild or partially reclaimed cranberr}^ bogs and the 

 associated vegetation. It is probable that all these ranges, with the 

 possible exception of the outer one, were at one time forested, but 

 have been brought to their present unstable condition within historic 

 times. 



Natural Heclamation. 



The natural reclamation of sand areas may be observed in the study 

 of the series of dunes in the various stages of fixation or establishment 

 b}' the native vegetation. The forest which ultimately obtains is unable 

 to develop directly upon the bare sand areas. There are certain defi- 

 nite stages that must be passed through before the mesoph3'tic condi- 

 tions incident to the forest are attained. The vegetation of each stage 

 requires more favorable conditions than did that of its predecessor 

 and at the same time is making the conditions possible for the exist- 

 ence of the vegetation which characterizes the succeeding stage. Even 



