124 MODERN FOREST ECONOMY. 



work was done by days' labour, and not by piecework, 

 which greatly increased the cost. 



' With the year 1807, in which Danzig was by Napoleon 

 made a Republic, the work was brought to a stand for 

 many a year. The new^ Republic could neither maintain 

 the work already done nor stay the devastation which 

 recommenced anew. 



'In 1814 Danzig again became a part of the Prussian 

 dominions; and with this there ensued a more active 

 period of Dunenbau, or arrest and culture of dunes. The 

 State repaired the injury sustained by the old works at 

 an expenditure of 21,032 guilders. But Bioern did not 

 live to enjoy the sight of the successful enterprise. He 

 died in 1819. He lived, however, to complete the fixing 

 of drift dunes which were imperilling Vogelsang and 

 Kahlberg. Bioern, whose service had from 1797 been 

 acknowledged by bestowing on him the rank and title of 

 Royal Kammer-Commissioner Councillor, is regarded by 

 some as not only the originator of the Prussian system, 

 but of the new systematic Strand-dunenbau, or operations 

 designed to arrest and utilise drifting sand dunes on the 

 coast everywhere. His works successfully accomplished 

 the object desired ; and the principle was in its measure 

 applicable by those who were engaged in carrying on 

 similiar operations in island sand drifts ; and it is acknow- 

 ledged as such by them at the present day. 



' At the same time it is not to be overlooked that Bioern 

 had not so completely understood the nature of sand 

 dunes as to found a work which would equally and that 

 completely meet the requirement of the object, and the 

 reduction of the work to a minimum of expense ' It is 

 manifest,' says Wessely, whose narrative I am endeavour- 

 ing to render into English, ' he did not value sufficiently 

 the importance of a Vordune employed now-a-days to 

 catch and retain the sand coming up from the sea ; the 

 mode of procedure which he adopted in the culture of the 

 firs for the consolidation of the mobile sand was much 

 more expensive than was necessary ; and, in fine, we miss 



