WATER SOILS. 137 



vents the wind from reaching the sand, and (3) covering the surface with a network 

 of brush fence which, while not preventing the wind from reaching the sand, lessens 

 its velocity and prevents drifting. . . . 



"The sand is first held in place by some inert covering or a plantation of grass, and 

 afterwards a forest is established by transplanting young trees. 



"Trees will not grow in the immediate vicinity of the ocean; hence a narrow strip 

 along the coast must be permanently held in place by means of a sand-binding grass. 



"Tbe best grass for this purpose is beach grass (Ammophila armaria ), which grows 

 naturally along the sandy seashores of the North Atlantic coast. The same species 

 grows along the shores of the Great Lakes and on tbe Atlantic coast of the United 

 States as far south as North Carolina. 



" The grass is transplanted in rows or squares in autumn or spring. Satisfactory 

 results can not be produced by sowing the seed of this or of other plants directly 

 upon tbe unprotected sand. 



"Where heather grows in sufficient abundance this is cut and laid upon tbe surface 

 of the sand. 



"The third important method for preventing drifting is the use of sand fences. 

 These consist of rows of rough stakes or pieces of brush driven into the sand and pro- 

 jecting above the surface from 1 to 3 feet. For holding the sand the shorter stakes are 

 placed in squares of 9 to 12 feet, forming a network. For accumulating sand in hol- 

 lows or repairing breaches in a protecting dune the high fences may be used. Solid 

 fences are not used. 



"The drifting of the sand having been prevented by one of the above methods, 

 young trees are set out to form the permanent covering of forest. In northern Europe 

 no satisfactory results have been obtained in establishing a forest by sowing the seed, 

 but in southwestern France a forest was produced by sowing the seed of Pinus mari- 

 tima upon the sand and covering it with brush. 



"The trees used are: In the Netherlands, Pinus austriaca and P. laricio near the 

 coast, P. sylcestris on the interior dunes; Denmark, Pinus montana near the coast and 

 Picea excelsa (preceded by Pinus montana) on interior heath land; Germany, Pinus 

 montana; France, Pinus maritirna." 



Drift-sand reclamation work, T. R. Sim (Natal. Agr. Jour, and Min. Pec, 7 

 (1904), No. 3, pp. "259-264, figs. 3). — An account is given of the reclamation work 

 being carried on at Durban for the prevention of the drifting of sand along the 

 beach. 



Soil studies, E. F. Ladd and H. M'Guigan (North Dakota Sta. Rpt. 1908, /;/*. 

 23-33). — The results of studies of the composition and properties of humus from 

 different sources are reported, showing "that when fractional precipitation is em- 

 ployed with humus extracts very different results are had with varying conditions of 

 soils. In some cases all of the humus is precipitated in the first fractional, and in 

 other cases all may come down in the last fractional, and in other cases about the 

 same amount will be had for each precipitation. It has been found, however, that 

 these several precipitates have very different values and widely varying compositions. 

 This problem is now being further investigated, and it is believed results can be had 

 which will throw much light upon some of the problems not well understood." 



Some results of investigations in soil management, F. H. King ( U. S. 

 Dept. Agr. Yearbook 1903, pp. 159-174) • — This article discusses advantages of thorough 

 cultivation in the South, loss of water by evaporation from southern soils, cultivation 

 to make water-soluble plant food available, faulty methods of cultivation, need of 

 greater porosity and better granulation for soils of South Atlantic and Gulf coastal 

 plains and of more frequent and deeper plowing, importance of the granular struc- 

 ture in soils and the conditions which favor its development and maintenance, iwed 

 of increasing the organic matter in southern soils, relative rates of nitrification in 



