RECLAMATION OF WASTE LAND. 419 



may. There is coarse grass that will grow there, there are 

 hardy shrubs. In the landes of France Bremontier has 

 more than a hundred years ago set us a brilliant example 

 of what may be accomplished with the cluster pine or 

 pinaster, a plant seemingly specially created for the purpose 

 of fixing the sand. For it fastens its penetrating roots in 

 such sand with remarkable tenacity and bends by nature 

 so as to lessen the force of the wind. That example has 

 been systematically followed in other parts of France, with 

 the best results. However, there are other plants which 

 will achieve the same purpose as well — and better, it may 

 be, where trees would be out of place — such as dog's tooth 

 grass. Vegetation of any kind found suitable will do, so 

 long as it fixes the sand and thereby makes the land lying 

 behind it — generally very useful land, if only by reason of 

 the moist state in which it is kept and the ready access 

 of sunshine — valuable for agriculture. 



However, there are also considerable stretches of waste 

 — ^Hke the Derbyshire moor which occasioned the Prince 

 Consort's astonishment— inland, some very sandy, so as 

 to have hitherto frightened off cultivators, some of better 

 quality. And the consideration of these brings us up to 

 the main cause of the waste which, now that the need has 

 come upon us and that the shoe has begun to pinch severely, 

 we all profoundly deplore. Such need becomes most 

 regrettably apparent in the cause of waste and semi-waste 

 which would bear good forest crops, of which we shall still 

 have to speak. But it makes itself felt to a lesser extent 

 also in respect of much land fitted for the plough. The 

 stubborn hindrance spoken of in our land system, which 

 places the ownership of the bulk of our land in the hands 

 of life tenants, who often enough have little regard for the 

 interests of those who come after, forms a serious stumbling- 

 block. Their circumstances in many enough cases also 

 compel them to make hay while the sun of Ufe shines. 

 Planting a forest would mean sinking money which they 

 would rather spend upon their own pleasures or else leave 

 for their younger children than on an investment which 

 will not mature for decades — beyond their possible limit 



