96 PROCEEDINGS OF [July, 



torical Society : Conveying the thanks of the Society for the prompt 

 aid given by the National Institution in the furtherance of the histo- 

 ry of Georgia, whicli, under its auspices, Dr. William Bacon Stevens 

 is now engaged in writing. 



The following communication from A. J. Swift, Captain United 



States Engineer Corps, was read : 



Washington, June 24, 1841. 

 Col. J. G. ToTTEX : 



Sir: While in France during the early part of this year my attention was called 

 to the opcraUons of tlic French, for fixing tlic moveable sands lying along the 

 sea coast, between the mouth of the Girondc and tlie Spanish frontier. 



The system consists in forming plantations of pines, and on a zone commencing 

 at liigh water mark, and about two hundred and fifty yards wide, on which the 

 pine will not grow, planting a grass called the gourbet, (flrundo arenaria.) lu 

 planting the pine, among many precautions that are taken for ensuring its growth, 

 is that of sowing with its seed the seeds of other plants of more rapid growth. 

 These for several years serve as protectors to tlie young pine from storms, &,c. The 

 plants best adapted to this purpose are the ajonc, {ulex europceus,) used in a zone 

 about seven hundred yards wide, and bounded on one side by tlie zone in which 

 the gourbet alone grows, and the genet, called in England broom, (spariium scopa. 

 rium,) only used when the distance from the sea is at least nine hundred yards. 



Ab it appeared to me that the system which has been so successfully followed in 



France might prove useful in our country, I endeavored to procure the information 



that would be necessary in order to make a commencement here. I have brought 



over the seeds of all the plants used, and also a tuft of the gonrbet and a twig of 



the pine. A part of the seeds I intend having planted, and, with the intention of 



depositing the plants, together with the remaining part of the seeds, with the Na. 



tional Institution, I take the liberty of sending them to you by the bearer of tliis 



note. 



I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, 



ALEX. J. SWIFT, Ciipt. U. S. Engs. 

 Mr. Dayton, from the Committee appointed to report upon the 

 order of business to be adopted at the Conversation Meetings of the 

 Institution, to be held on the first and third Mondays of each month, 

 recommended the following plan. 



''•'The chair to be taken and the meeting called to order precisely at 

 seven o'clock, in the spring and summer, and at eight o'clock in the 

 autumn and winter. The chair to be retained so long as the business 

 of the meeting may, in the opinion of the Chairman, render it expe- 

 dient, but in no case to exceed one hour. At each Conversation 

 Meeting the donations received at the preceding stated meeting to bo 

 j)laccd on the table for the inspecliou of the members, and an oppor- 



