542 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



gestion was not carried out. But when Dantzic became part of 

 Prussia, in 1793, the Government took the matter energetically in 

 hand. Burgher Soren-Biorn, who was of Danish birth, recom- 

 mended the application of Titius's plan, and was intrusted with 

 the redemption of one of the most threatening dunes. Having 

 accomplished this work to the general satisfaction, he was made 

 inspector of plantations, and in this capacity superintended the 

 work till his death in 1819. 



Since then, the work of fixing the drift-sands has been begun 

 in several places. As a generally approved preliminary measure, 

 a fore-dune is first formed. This is done by planting between the 

 dune and the sea two parallel fences, about six feet apart, and 

 rising some eight feet above the level of the sea. These structures 

 weaken the force of the sea- winds so much as to cause a consider- 

 able proportion of the sand to fall between them, or on either side 

 of them. Thus a dune is formed. It is secured by planting sev- 

 eral rows of Arundo arenaria — a grass that can not be buried by 

 sand, because the more it is covered the better it flourishes, throw- 

 ing out strong roots from below, and even growing in length 

 above. The fore-dune protects the real dune against waves during 

 storms, against a part of the wind, and against a continued over- 

 flow of new sand. Time is also gained for providing a covering 

 of plants. First the sand-grasses are planted, then herbage-plants, 

 then heaths and willows, and finally, in the least protected places, 

 trees, of which firs are preferred. 



The cultivation of the inland drift-sand is somewhat easier; 

 but in either case it requires continuous, active work. Seeds of 

 suitable sand-plants are sown and covered with limbs, straw, etc., 

 till the resultant growth has become strong enough to stand 

 against the wind. The ground is gradually improved by means of 

 these plants, till at a later period useful plants can be cultivated, 

 and the former desert can be turned into tillable land or wood. 

 The conversion is, indeed, a tedious process, but the result is prof- 

 itable. — Translated for the Popular Science Monthly from Das 

 Ausland. 



The people of New Zealand are proud of the assiduity with which science is 

 cultivated in that colony, and of its scientific literature. The New Zealand In- 

 stitute is helped by a government grant. Under the provision of its act of incor- 

 poration, that any local society having fifty members can claim the right of 

 affiliation with it, and of participation in its funds and privileges, the various 

 scientific circles have been brought into communication with one another, and a 

 friendly rivalry has been promoted. The twenty volumes of the " Transactions 

 and Proceedings" of the Institute are filled with valuable memoirs on almost 

 every scientific subject. A number of " Students' Manuals," issued at moderate 

 cost, have had a salutary influence in interesting the young in science. 



