ARUNDO ARENARI A. 155 



valuable grasses for binding the sand of the sea shore, and 

 raising those banks which, in Lancashire, Norfolk, and es- 

 pecially in Holland, are the chief defence of the country 

 against the encroachments of the ocean. These sand banks 

 are of themselves so loose, that in dry weather the sand 

 would be drifted away by the winds, and expose the inhabi- 

 tants to frequent inundations, but the creeping branching 

 roots of these plants bind it together, and oppose an irresis- 

 tible barrier to the ocean. 



ESTHER. 



Is there more than one kind of grass employed? 



MRS. F. 



Yes, several; the Lyme grass (Elymus arenarius) is per- 

 haps one of the best of all plants for this purpose; and the 

 creeping Fescue grass (Festuca rubrd) and the Sea Carex (C. 

 arenaria) also contribute to the same end. The long and 

 cord-like roots of the latter spread into the loose sand to an 

 immense extent, branching at the extremity, and sending out 

 from the knots many shaggy fibres. Indeed, of such impor- 

 tance is the preservation of these plants, that a town has 

 been overwhelmed with sand, from the cutting down of the 

 trees, and pulling up of the grass in the sand hills; and hence 

 an act was passed in the reign of George II, prohibiting the 

 cutting or destroying of the starr, or bent, under very severe 

 penalties.* Fortunately, cattle will not touch the Arundo 

 arenaria, or they probably would be among its most serious 

 depredators. 



ESTHER. 



Of what reed was the calamus of the ancients made? 



MRS. F. 



That is not exactly known; they used a reed split like our 

 modern pens for writing upon parchment and papyrus. The 

 style, as you know, was employed for their waxen tablets, 



* Burns, vol. i. 



