Fixing Blowing Sands hy incayis of Planted Grasses. 353 



far as the foot could press it, and the plants then put in, 

 that they almost invariably succeeded, and this system I 

 have continued with great success. The plants should be 

 put in pretty close, say from one to three feet apart. I 

 found that Maories were much better than white men for 

 this work ; they were not so impatient. The white man 

 likes to get over a large quantity of ground without 

 reference to the quality of the work ; the Maroi is less 

 impatient and more careful. 



It is advisable to cut off the tops of the plants when 

 planting, and leave only a small part exposed above 

 ground, as exposed leaves are apt to twist round each other, 

 and perhaps destroy the growing shoot. 



In New Zealand I would plant during all the cool and 

 moist part of the year, say from March till October. In 

 Great Britain I should think planting could go on all 

 through the autumn, winter, and spring, except when 

 freezing or the land covered with snow. 



It is certainly desirable, although not indispensable, that 

 the land which is planted should be enclosed, so as to 

 keep off stock while growing, 



My original stock of Elymus entirely disappeared. I 

 afterwards introduced from Christchurch both Elymus 

 arenarius and E. giganteus. The latter is, I think, very 

 valuable for sand-fixing, as it takes a very firm hold on the 

 ground, and therefore is difficult to pull up, and it throws 

 out a great amount of foliage. 



The principles which I advocate may be summarised as 

 follows : — 



1. Plant instead of sowing. 



2. Plant deeply. 



If a large area of land is to be operated upon, a regular 

 staff of men should be employed under the direction of an 

 intelligent head man, who ought to give the matter of the 

 proper places in which to commence planting his attentive 

 consideration. The prevailing winds should be studied, and 

 the planting should always begin on the windward side. By 

 aud by, when the plants give much seed, many of them will 

 lodge in hollows which are afterwards covered up by blow- 

 ing sand, and in this way seeding may be said to answer. 



