(39 2 ) 



nature in her successive plant formations, when new land is 

 formed. This consists in first of all establishing a growth of 

 beach grass (Ammophila arcnaria (L.) Link.), which may be 

 readily transplanted and which continues to grow upward 

 through any sand drifted over it. Several hundred acres were 

 thus planted and apparently with complete success. Patches 

 of bay (Myrica Carolinensis Mill.) were next introduced here 

 and there, which took hold at once, and finally young pines 

 (Pinus rigida Mill.) were planted and seeds scattered amongst 

 the tufts of grass and in the shelter of the patches of bay or 

 in ground protected by layers of brush. At the time of my 

 visit the areas so planted showed every indication of success 

 and, in addition, in many places a natural growth of Euphor- 

 bia -poly gonif olia L., Artemisia caudata Michx., Polygonella 

 articulata (L.) Meissn., and other sand-loving species, had be- 

 come well established. 



In this connection the questions have been asked : Why, 

 if it is the fact that a vigorous forest growth once covered the 

 region, should it be difficult to reestablish it, and why should 

 that which yet remains show no apparent indication of ever 

 becoming equal to that which preceded it? 



The same questions were advanced in regard to Block 

 Island and other localities, where similar conditions prevail, 

 which has led me to think that perhaps the matter may not 

 have received the attention which it deserves. 



At first sight an adequate answer might not be apparent, 

 but when the former geologic or physiographic conditions 

 are considered the reasons are quite obvious. In the case of 

 Block Island for example there is no doubt that the original 

 forest growth was established at a time when the island, as 

 such, did not exist; when what we now know merely as a 

 small, isolated, wind-swept island was part of an extensive 

 land area, connected with the adjacent mainland, and there- 

 for not subject to the vicissitudes of wind and weather which 

 now prevail. 



In the case of Provincetown also the original conditions 

 were totally different from the present ones. The building 



