12 BOTANY. 



scarcely a blade is seen, to come suddenly on a rude 

 chimney from which the peat-smoke rises, and to see a 

 pig, followed by a troop of ragged children, rise up from 

 under our feet. Much care has been taken to induce 

 the occupants of these tenements, who subsist on fishing, 

 to quit the ground, but hitherto unsuccessfully. They 

 pay no rent for the burrows ; and are contented to act 

 as geological hour-glasses. 



In exploring maritime scenes like this, the geologist, 

 not to speak of the philanthropist, will find interesting 

 objects of research. If he be a botanist, he will probably 

 occupy himself also in devising plans for the detention 

 of the sands, and their gradual fixation and conversion 

 into cultivable soil. It is well known that many plants 

 may be advantageously used as binders to loose sands. 

 Of these, the Sand-reed (Ammophila arundinacea), which 

 naturally grows on the sandy shores of Europe, is one of 

 the best. Its roots penetrate to a considerable depth, 

 ramifying in all directions, and forming a complete sys- 

 tem of rope-work which soon binds together the loosest 

 sands : while its strong tall leaves protect the surface 

 of the soil from drought, and afford shelter to numerous 

 small plants, which soon grow between the reeds, and 

 gradually form a new green surface on the bed of sand. 

 Were this reed planted on the Sligo sands, and protected 

 for a very few years from the donkeys of the imbedded 

 inhabitants, the further progress of the sand-flood would 

 be effectually stopped, and the land now lost to cultiva- 

 tion gradually restored to a part, at least, of its former 

 value. Several other plants will flourish under the pro- 

 tection of the Sand-reed. One of the most valuable (re- 



