PLANTING 



PLANTING 



2671 



baccharis, and iva, and give protection to the young 

 forest trees. Along the rock-bound New England coast 

 are wind-swept compact masses and distorted individ- 

 uals of cedar, pitch and Norway pine, corresponding 

 in a way to the similar Monterey pine and cypress of 

 the Lower California shore. With the pines and oaks 

 of New England are maple and shad-bush with ground- 

 cover thickets of baybeny, rose, beach plum, huckle- 

 berry, and baccharis, and compact evergreen mats of 

 bearberry, crowberry, and hanging curtains of the pros- 

 trate juniper over faces of ledges. In the salt-marshes 

 are great patches of the rich green sedges, and in the 

 flats the brilliantly colored samphires. 



The main thing to be considered in the development 

 of this native growth is to let it alone when it is well 

 established. On the drifting sands of the dunes and 

 plains of the seashore, plantations of the beach- 

 grasses are made and protected as well as plantations of 

 pines and shrubs. In California certain lupines and 

 acacias have been successful, together with the reed, in 

 holding the drifting sand. 



There are two kinds of seaside planting: the adapta- 

 tion of the usual species used in the lawn and garden to 

 seashore conditions for effects like the usual refined 

 planting; the other the planting for definite seaside 

 effects by the almost exclusive use of typical maritime 

 flora. This second kind of seashore planting is rarely 

 attempted, as natural seaside pictures are hard to 

 imitate. The problem as usually conceived is one of 

 finding plants that will endure seaside conditions. 



The tidal marshes are always fully planted by nature, 

 and man can add little to good purpose. In sheltered 

 bays, especially where the soil is good, the existing 

 flora usually differs little from that common to the 

 region inland, and it is no great problem to add to it. 

 Even on the most exposed sites there is a low herbage 

 and stunted undergrowth while a few picturesque 

 wind-twisted trees give special distinction to the land- 

 scape. Even evergreen trees are often found near the 

 shore-line, and the black spruce on the Maine coast, 

 pitch pine and red cedar in southern New England, 

 Jersey pines on the sand-barren coast of the middle 

 states, and farther south bald cypress, until this gives 

 way to the tropical palmetto and mangrove. 



Given partial shelter near the taller woody plants, 

 many low shrubs and herbs may be grown near the 

 seacoast. There are many showy natives in the mari- 

 time flora and many more may be brought from Europe, 

 though few have been tried as yet. The salt in the soil 

 or water is rather a minor factor to many plants. More 

 important to their welfare is the light sandy or heavy 

 clay soil on the seashore above the tide-line. For the 

 woody plants, the great factor is the high wind which 

 stunts the branches and foliage. Though the winds are 

 high, yet the temperature is more even and usually 

 higher than at the same latitude inland. This is a 

 favorable factor. 



Since the sheltered nooks are not at all difficult to 

 plant, it is on the exposed sites where the soil is poor 

 that the problem is usually specially considered. If the 

 soil is wet just above the tide-line, the beaches need 

 no planting to hold the soil in place. When the soil is 

 light and dry and shifts with the wind, not only is root- 

 hold for the plants difficult, but the wind-driven sand 

 cuts the twigs and foliage. It is here, where wind and 

 wave meet, that several grasses do good work in hold- 

 ing the shifting sand in place until larger-growing 

 plants can get a foothold. Two good sand-binders are 

 the beach-grass (Ammophila arenaria) and sea lyme- 

 grass (Elymus arenarius). These can be set out as small 



Elants or the seeds sown upon the sand. Immediately 

 ranches or heavy straw should be thrown on to hold 

 the sand for a time until the grass takes hold. When 

 these tall grasses are established, they may be rein- 

 forced by lower tufted grasses, such as festuca and stipa. 

 Immediately back of this line of exposure should 



begin the shelter-belt of trees and shrubs. This would 

 consist of quick-growing trees, such as some of the 

 willows, poplars, locusts, and some of the native cher- 

 ries (Prunus serotina, P. pennsylvanica, P. nrginiana, 

 and the like). These are to be followed by more 

 permanent material, such as the stiff thick-growing 

 thorns and native crab-apples, and the species of oaks 

 and other native forest trees that will live in light soil. 

 Trees with large or compound foliage are to be avoided. 

 Several coniferous evergreen trees thrive in conditions 

 close to the salt-water, particularly the white spruce, 

 pitch pine, red cedar, and their geographical relatives. 

 A great many trees, even the sturdiest natives, cannot 

 thrive under extreme conditions along the seashore. 



Beneath the partial shelter of groups of trees, a great 

 many shrubs will thrive under the handicap of sand and 

 salt and wind. Particularly worthy of note are such 

 common shrubs as Baccharis halimifolia, Lycium 

 halimifolium, Ligustrum vulgare, Shepherdia canadensis, 

 Hippophae rhamnoides, Salix riminatis, Rhamnus 

 Frangula, Cornus paniculata, Rhus copallina, and the 

 like, and among the beach-grasses Primus pumila, P. 

 marUima, Myrica carolinensis, Cytisus scoparius, and the 



species of Tam- 

 arix. To tie 

 the shrubs to- 

 gether, several 

 vines, as the 

 native species 

 of grapes, ce- 

 lastrus, and 

 smilax, are very 

 useful. 



For details of 

 color, masses of 

 native or exotic 

 perennial herbs 

 mav be grown. 

 In dry soil select 

 some of the 

 species of Ar- 

 meria, Sedum, 

 Lathyms, As- 

 clepias, Liatris, 

 Silene, Statice, 

 Opuntia, and so 

 on. In wet soil 

 try the native 

 species of Hibis- 

 cus, Iris, Aco- 

 rus,Thalictrum, 

 Lythrum, Soli- 

 dago, and their 



near exotic relatives. The splash of salt-water is often 

 fatal to many annuals, but those hardy annuals that 

 like light warm soils, as pprtulaca and the Shirley 

 poppy, will give masses of bright summer color. In the 

 planting of herbs, there would be no special soil- 

 preparation, or after-care, as refined garden effects 

 are here out of place. 



Three distinct purposes are served by a judicious 

 seaside planting: shelter from strong winds to benefit 

 the crops and man, checking of shore erosion and sand 

 movement, and definite landscape effects. One should 

 not so much strive to secure gardenesque effects but 

 rather to intensify the natural features of the land- 

 scape. 



Examples of successful seashore planting are numer- 

 ous along the coast of New England where summer 

 colonies of the wealthy have been established, parts of 

 Long Island, and in many places along the coast of the 

 Middle Atlantic states. The first work in seaside plant- 

 ing in this country was to prevent shore erosion, and 

 from this work have developed the further uses for 

 shelter and landscape effect. The problem of the shores 

 of the Great Lakes is very similar, and much excellent " 



3013. The palmetto or sabal of the 

 southeastern states. 



