54 ANNUAL PLANTING. 



government to examine the subject, and report what 

 action was necessary to prevent the rapid destruction 

 of the harbor. They recommended an act to prevent 

 the destruction of beach grass, and reported that the 

 sum of thirty-six hundred dollars would be necessary 

 to set out that plant, make fences, &c. The Legisla- 

 ture, in 1826, applied to Congress for that sum; and Con- 

 gress has, at different times, made appropriations to the 

 amount of about thirty-eight thousand dollars, which 

 seem to have failed in some measure to accomplish 

 the object intended, and East Harbor is still rapidly 

 filling up. 



Many years ago, it was as customary to warn the 

 inhabitants of Truro and some other towns on the 

 Cape, every spring, to turn out to plant beach grass, 

 as it was in the inland towns to turn out and mend the 

 roads. This was required by law, with suitable penal- 

 ties for its neglect, and took place in April. 



A farmer, of much practical knowledge of this sub- 

 ject, says : " Since the cattle have been kept from the 

 beaches, by the act of the Legislature of 1826, the 

 grass and shrubs have sprung up of their own accord, 

 and have, in a great measure, in the westerly part of 

 the Cape, accomplished what was intended to be done 

 by planting grass. It is of no use to plant grass on 

 the high parts of the beach. Plant on the lowest parts 

 and they will raise, while the highest places, over which 

 the grass will spread, are levelling by the wind. To 

 preserve the beach, it must be kept as level as possible. 



" Beach grass is of but little value except to prevent 

 our loose, sandy beaches from being drifted about by 

 the wind. We have but one species, and this is fast 

 spreading over our upland, making it useless for culti- 

 vation. Land that would produce from twenty to 

 twenty-five bushels of Indian corn to the acre, with- 



