1 86 In Touch with Nature. 



the land along the Jersey coast is sinking, and we 

 naturally look for a stratum of loam, once well 

 above but now below or at the level of the sea. 

 This, in our fancy, we hold necessary for timber 

 growth ; but if it is here at all, these trees' roots 

 have not reached it. It is strange that such huge 

 growths can find safe anchorage in these light and 

 shifting sands. They have found some strength in 

 union and close companionship, it is true ; but, 

 though they are built on a sandy foundation, the 

 storms have not prevailed to their detriment even. 

 Whence the trees' nourishment? Largely from 

 the atmosphere : but why speculate ? Suffice it 

 to say, that, were we to take these same trees and 

 shrubs inland and set them in pure silica, though 

 Paul planted and Apollos watered never so 

 carefully, there would be no increase. 



The undergrowth, too, is everywhere equally 

 luxuriant and gives a semi-tropical appearance 

 to the landscape, this feature being emphasized by 

 the vigor of vine growths that bind together the 

 tallest trees and unite many an oak, cedar, and 

 holly standing scores of feet apart. We are forced 

 to smile nowadays when we read the glowing 



