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bulky portion of which consisted of paper and boards, we crossed the 

 peninsula of Kintyre or Cantyre, towards Machrihanish bay, passing 

 the old church of Kilchingie. The shores at the bay are composed of 

 immense hills of sand raised by the waves of the ocean, which roll on 

 the beach at times with enormous fury, causing their roar to be heard 

 for many miles. The sands are kept together and prevented from 

 being blown inland by Ammophila arenaria, Carex arenaria, Triticura 

 junceum, and other plants commonly known as bent or marram, the 

 stems and roots of which, extending in all directions and interlacing 

 together, form a sort of basket-work, and this gives a certain degree 

 of firmness to the loose soil.* Plants thus contribute in some measure 

 to the solidity of the land and prevent the inroads of the ocean. In 

 Norfolk there are low hills of blown sand 50 or 60 feet high, bound to- 

 gether by means of grasses and sedges in the way I have mentioned. 

 The maritime part of Lincolnshire which lies below the sea-level is pro- 

 tected in a similar manner from the invasion of the sea; and the great 

 embankment in Holland owes its stability, in no small degree, to the 

 plants which grow on it. The drifting of sands often causes great de- 

 vastation, covering thousands of acres of land, and destroying vegeta- 

 tion. This is seen in many parts of this county, as well as in France, 

 Holland and Russia. About the commencement of last century the 

 French government took up the subject, and directed attention to the 

 shifting sands in that part of France which lies near the Bay of Bis- 

 cay. A species of fir, Pinus maritimus, major, was planted, which 

 now covers the sandy desert, and has effectually checked the progress 

 of the sand drift. Some interesting facts on this subject were lately 

 given in the ' Gardener's Chronicle,' where it is also stated, that on 

 the estate of Lord Palmerston, on the west coast of Ireland, between 

 the towns of Ballyshannon and Sligo, nearly 1000 acres of land were 

 covered with sand, in some cases to the depth of 100 feet or more. 

 About eighteen years ago, the Ammophila arenaria or bent was 

 planted in these sands in large quantity, and the Pinus maritimus 

 major, from Bourdeaux, and other pines, were also introduced, and by 

 this means a most striking improvement has taken place. About 800 

 imperial acres have been reclaimed and converted into productive 

 pasture land. 



On reaching the lighthouse we were most hospitably entertained by 



* Besides the plants mentioned, Elymus aienarius, Triticum repeus, Festuca rubra 

 and arenaria, Galium verum and Trifolium repens are commonly found assisting in 

 fixing the sand. 



