MICHIGAN'S SHIFTING SANDS. 21 



plot ion. The private individual can not atfonl hoavy expense where 

 there is no prospect of immediate returns. A system is then-lore neces- 

 sary which roduoos the initial expense and spreads the work over a 

 longer period. The labor problem also pi-o.ve.nls Hie private owner from 

 securing planting material at the proper season. Planting stock is hard 

 (o secure in quantities, especially beach grass. KiVort to complete the 

 reclamation in one or two years often resnlls in careless planting or in 

 leaving implanted areas which soon develop bad blow conditions and 

 rnin the earlier work. These facts have been taken into consideration 

 in I he following plan. 



The fact that the new sand tirst makes its appearance at the water 

 line or high waler mark, establishes this as the point of first attack. 

 The tirst planting that is done amounts to a border planting using any 

 material capable of withstanding the rigors of exposure rough sea's 



Fig. 12. Wind erosion at I'.iu I'rairie. This cvmelery lay in the path of a Now. Such 

 a condition as (his inijiht justify a heavy expenditure iu the establishment of the Entire 

 Cover System of sand control. 



and ice conditions are often very severe 4 on living woody growth. On the 

 tine sand beaches the use of beach grass, bearli willows, sand pea and 

 other local plants that are easily secured is recommended. The im- 

 portant principle is the establishment of a vegetative belt parallel to the 

 water line and as near to it as plants will grow. In many places along 

 the Lake Michigan shore grass planting is not necessary because of the 

 tirni holding condition of the surface near the water. This is due to 

 various compositions entering into the make up of the soil, principally 

 however io (he coating of small pebbles or coarse gravel known as 

 shingle. These conditions furnish splendid ground for the planting, 

 the wind being the only faclor working against the plants. Often it 

 has been possible to collect drift material enough to make a wind and 

 spray butler between I he high water line and the planting line. Logs, 

 slumps, sticks, barrels, boxes, etc.. furnish a good protection to the low 

 growing tirst cover planting from the severe sweep of the winds. 



