SPECIAL KINDS OF FOKESTS 201 



dunes. For over a century the people of France, the 

 Netherlands, and other countries have fought these sands, 

 and some excellent results have been attained. 



The methods employed by all are similar. First of all 

 a close board or brush fence is erected. This is situated 

 about three hundred to six hundred feet from high-water 

 mark, and runs parallel to the coast line. Usually a 

 parallel fence is built about forty feet from the first. The 

 sand, whether blown from the ocean or from the land side, 

 is caught by these fences, which thus cause the formation 

 of a new dune. As the sand gets deeper and deeper the 

 fences are raised higher, until, in the course of several 

 years, this new shore or littoral dune is about thirty feet 

 high. When once of this height the new dune keeps the 

 sand from traveling farther inland, and the sandy stretches 

 in its rear, or on the land side, have a chance to become 

 quiet. Then the new shore dune is covered with sand 

 grasses, mostly the sea marram or mat weed, which thrive 

 on these mobile sands, and the land behind it is planted 

 or sowed to pine, both plants and seed being protected 

 by brush evenly covered over the entire tract. 



The pine woods are usually treated by the selection 

 method, so that no large bare spots are ever produced. 

 The chief danger, fire, is guarded against by a number 

 of fire lanes and by careful watching. 



The shore dune requires continual close watching, and 

 must be kept covered with sand grass to prevent renewed 



