MICHIGAN'S SHIFTING SANDS. 9 



ceaselessly at work, Here and there reaching above the level sweep of 

 sand surface, port ions of rock, driftwood or oilier debris project. Around 

 these obstacles the wind forms liny drifts and cuts, into wiiiHi seeds of 

 sand and shore grasses, and rootstalks of perennials di-ift and become 

 covered wilh sand. (Jrowth starls in the shelters thus secured and soon 

 clnnijis of grass cling tenaciously to the support. ( Fig. :>>.) Light seeds 

 from nearby trees and shrubs lodge here and gain root. These small 

 spots normally, and annually gain more Around than is lost to natural 

 forces of wind and water. These spots of vegetation and woody cover 

 soon spread over the fare of the heaviest drifts and form the crust which 

 establishes the dunes. Species which take part in this early struggle 

 with wind and water erosion, and which gradually win out arc all those 

 shore and sand grasses and herbaceous plants which thrive so well on 

 the shores of the (Jreat Lakes. The most prominent and those most 

 serviceable in reclamation are given here and include the three classes 

 of trees, shrubs ;<nd plants and grasses which grow wild on the sand 

 dime and drift areas of the Stale. A complete list is not attempted hut 

 only such are given, as are most conspicuous in the formation of a cover 

 on the established dune areas. 



Many of the shrubs and plants listed form a secondary or soil rover 

 under the canopy of forest trees, and are not directly responsible for 

 maintaining the crust or surface. They do, however, contribute largely 

 in supplying the organic matter, as well as furnish the physical obstruc- 

 tion which is so essential in holding the litter and debris in place against 

 the action of the winds. Many of the species listed are local to one or 

 more of the Dime Belts and this fact should be ascertained before they 

 are generally used. 



It is entirely possible that certain plants and grasses found growing 

 in abundance in the Superior licit may be planted on the Michigan and 

 Union shores and vice versa, but definite facts should be obtained for 

 each plant so far as possible before it is used extensively. 



The following trees grow well on the sand banks and more or less 

 wind swept shores of the (Jreat Lakes: 



TREES. 



Conifers. 



White Pine Pi* strobus. 



Red Pine Pinus resinosa. 



Jack Pine . Pinus divaricata. 



Pitch Pine Vimix rigida. 



Austrian Pine l>irms austriaca, 



Scolch Pine Pinus sylvcstris. 



White Spruce 1>i<<l ' :l canadensis. 



Norway Spruce 1>i( ' (>:1 excelsa. 



European Larch I-n-ix europea. 



Hemlock Tsnga cauadensis. 



Balsam .Fir \ m '<' s balsamea. 



White Cedar . Thuya occidental is. 



