140 JOURNAI, OF FORESTRY 



and transplanted direct on the bare sand without any preUminary 

 covering of the area with brush. The younger bayberry plants about 

 12-14 inches tall have been found to be best for this work. They are 

 set out about 18 inches to 24 inches apart. The work is begun at the 

 bottom of the slopes and carried on upward. It is useless to begin 

 at the middle or top of the slopes because the sand blows out and 

 undermines the plant. Mr. Chase, who has been in charge of the 

 work, prefers to plant bayberry in the fall, while spring is preferred in 

 the planting of pine. Pine, by the way, is spaced about 4 by 4 feet. 



Mr. Chase has had some luck in planting Scotch broom. It sprouts 

 from the roots and is taking hold in some places. He claims that the 

 transplating of beach grass is unsuccessful here since, when trans- 

 planted, it does not live more than 2 or 3 years. If it bears seed in 

 the meantime, however, and this seed catches on the area, the resulting 

 stand of beach grass grows nicely. 



SAND DUNE PLANTING NEAR HARLEM, MICH. 



This particular section of the country lying just to the east of Lake 

 Michigan is very sandy, and, in addition to immense dunes which 

 border the shore of the Lake, there are small interior dunes which 

 give farmers considerable trouble. The particular dune which ! saw 

 near Harlem is only 4 to 5 acres in extent. Last fall (1919) white 

 pine, white spruce, western yellow pine, and Scotch pine were planted 

 on the dune, but from present appearances are not going to be suc- 

 cessful. The fall is a very poor time in the first place to set out trees 

 on sand dunes. The worst winds occur in the winter and the sand 

 moves to the greatest extent during that time. As a result many of 

 these trees which were set out last fall have died because the sand has 

 been torn away from around the roots. Some, however, have taken 

 hold and may succeed. A better showing has been made by beach 

 grass and by a combination planting of willow and cottonwood, the 

 willow being placed to the windward. Two species of willow were 

 used, the purple and the American green. The purple willow has not 

 proved nearly as good as the American green. It does not throw out 

 any branches, and what is needed in this kind of planting is some- 

 thing which will branch profusely. The American green has proved 

 a little better in this respect than the purple willow, but I do not believe 

 it is at all ideal. The combination of willow and cottonwood gives 

 promise of holding the sand. What is really needed in this sand dune 

 planting is an evergreen which, of course, will hold its leaves in the 

 winter and lie rather flat on the sand. -This would prevent the wind 

 scooping the sand out and carrying it away durmg the winter months. 



