568 SEASIDE TREE-PLANTING. [Jan. 



also supplied most of the shrubs which were flourishing at the time 

 of our autumn visit. This healthy progress in a spot exposed to 

 the full brunt of the North Sea, in an atmosphere loaded with sea 

 spray and chemical impurities, possesses a general sylvicultural 

 interest. We saw conifers dying in the Tynemouth Park, on the 

 opposite shore of the Tyne. But here and there the Ontario poplar, 

 golden elder, sycamore, Huntingdown willow, oval-leaved privet, 

 and common elder flourished. Thus the experiment ifeported on 

 some time ago of successfully planting similar species on the sand- 

 dunes of Holland is repeated on the Northumbrian coast. It would 

 then appear that the way has been pioneered for corporations along 

 our sea-coasts, employing surplus populations of idle workers crying 

 for bread, as was the case in Dundee only a few weeks since. The 

 number of relief hands at South Shields l*ark, which was begun 

 during the dull autumn of 1884, varied considerably. Two shillings 

 a day for seven hours' work kept many decent workers off the rates 

 during the winter and spring months, while it helped to allay the 

 spirit of disaffection. About £6000 has been spent on the North 

 Park. The marked distress of last winter has not as yet showed 

 itself, but the cost, of completing the South Park has been estimated 

 at £10,000; and the progress of the work will likely be much 

 regulated by the needs of the unemployed operatives. 



The South Shields Town Council held a special meeting on 16 th 

 December last, at which it was resolved to instruct the surveyor to 

 proceed at once with the new works at the Park, so that the pre- 

 vailing distress amongst workmen, ho7ia Jide residents in the town 

 for six months or more, may be relieved. The town-clerk intimated 

 that about £2000 would be thus expended in wages, at 2s. 6d. per 

 day for each man. The borough engineer, along with Mr. Burns, 

 park manager, have thus another opportunity for that admirable 

 selection of trees suitable for the situation which they have so well 

 displayed in the already completed Park. 



In the successful sea-planting in Holland already alluded to, a 

 protecting row of elms, ash, and maple was first planted facing the 

 sea-breeze ; and behind this another row was planted inland of 

 poplars, willow, lime-trees, alder, chestnut, walnut, and plane ; while 

 the underwood comprised the sorb, elder, and sloe. It was found 

 most expedient to plant these trees as tall shrubs in deep holes 

 about three feet apart, which were kept open from autumn till the 

 spring planting, when they were filled up with coarse-grained sand 

 mixed with clay. The plants were fixed by two guards, to which 

 they were tied by straw or willow wisps. T, A. 



