144 PLANT-LIFE ON LAND [CH. vm 



rather than themselves to project seawards. Like 

 the softer tissues of the animal body which round 

 off the more abrupt outlines of the skeleton, so the 

 Dune-formation softens the harsher configuration of 

 the rocky framework of the coast. 



Nevertheless on certain low-lying coasts, w r hich 

 have no resistant skeleton of firmer rocks, and thus 

 are liable to inroads of the sea, the defensive methods 

 of the Dune-formers may be of the highest importance. 

 Where a shallow, gently graded beach leads up to 

 high-water mark, breaking thus the force of the 

 waves even in stormy weather, the Dune-formation 

 may oppose an effective barrier to further advance. 

 Moreover, in such places the ample supply of sand that 

 may readily be blown from the beach makes Dune- 

 building easy. It is on certain stretches of the 

 Continental Coast bordering on the North Sea that 

 the Marram Grass and Lyme Grass attain their greatest 

 use. They are planted out according to strict method, 

 and are even protected by law. Thus Dune-formation 

 may be not merely a picturesque incident of the 

 Coast, but it may also be of positive use to man. 

 In the next Chapter it will be shown that it may also 

 minister to his amusements. 



