PLANTS THAT BUILD ISLANDS 119 



This sand-binding habit of certain plants may be 

 noticed in various parts of the world, especially on 

 islands, and on the sea-coasts of many countries. 

 It is largely due to these plants that many islands 

 exist at all, and that the continents are as large as 

 they are. Sand-binding grasses and other sand- 

 loving plants are of sufficient importance to have 

 been made the subject for special consideration by 

 experts in topographical and geological botany, and 

 by land commissioners of such countries as have 

 land bordering on the sea-coast. 



An interesting example of the rapidity and ex- 

 tent to which this action of grasses in binding and 

 building lands can attain is shown in one of the 

 reports of the Royal Commission on Coast Ero- 

 sion. 



In Southampton waters were scattered seeds of 

 rice-grass by a ship, whose cargo was chiefly of this 

 grass. Probably but little of the cargo was so lost 

 in the unloading, but this portion, washing up on 

 the shores, grew and spread rapidly, until in its 

 circular progress it had covered the earth to the 

 extent of twenty miles, the distance between South- 

 ampton and Hurst Castle. 



This sea-rice, or spartina, growing thickly along 

 the mud-banks of the shore, gathered and held much 

 seaweed that was washed upon its stiff points, until 



