28 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARUORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



these palings, they were gradually raised, until a regular artificial 

 barrier dune, 35 to 40 feet in height running along the shore, 

 was formed. This dune was then fixed by sowing and planting 

 Marram. On the sands behind, Maritime pine seed was sown 

 alone, or mixed with the seeds of Marram grass, whins and 

 broom. The area sown was then covered up with brushwood, 

 heather, whin and broom. As is well known, these operations 

 have not only arrested the progress of the sand, but have trans- 

 formed the Landes into one of the most prosperous districts of 

 France, the centre from which we derive our supplies of French 

 turpentine, and a large proportion of our supply of pit props. 

 .Similar experiments are carried out on the shores of the Baltic 

 in East Prussia. Here, after the barrier dune is formed, fir 

 branches, heather or broom are laid down on the sands behind, 

 and the planting is carried out with fairly old plants of Scots or 

 mountain pine. 



To come nearer home, the Balgownie Golf Links were 

 threatened by sand blowing through the guUeys and clefts 

 which form breaks in the embankment which runs along the 

 coast. Two years ago, gratings were placed across these clefts, 

 so that they might become filled up with sand. As an extra 

 precaution, the sloping sand on the seaward side of the embank- 

 ment was planted with Psamma arenaria and Elymus areuarius. 

 At first it was feared the sea would wash out the grasses, but 

 instead of this happening they are driving back the sea, 

 and the sand which they are collecting is forming a new 

 outer dune some 15 yards in advance of the old one. Since the 

 grasses were planted the Don has altered its channel, retreat- 

 ing from the Balgownie side towards the north, but it is doubtful 

 whether they are in any way the cause of this departure from 

 traditional habits on the part of the river. 



