Reclaiming Sand Dunes. 183 



ering many acres and spreading rapidly over some low spots in 

 the central portion of the sand hill. This is a native shrub, com- 

 mon in all swamps and low lands. The Red Raspberry (Rubus 

 strigosus, Mx.). — A form of this common shrub was seen cover- 

 ing a large area on the farm of Mr. Thomas McGregor, who has 

 encouraged its growth, as well as some other native plants 

 which occur with it. The common Blackberry {Rubus villosus, 

 Ait.). — Even more luxuriant than the Red Raspberr}^ was the 

 Common High Blackberry, which rooted freely through the 

 sand and threw up many stems. Both of these berry-bearing 

 plants produce heavy crops of excellent fruit, and it seems as 

 though they might prove a valuable resource to farmers, while 

 at the same time performing the important office of providing 

 a barrier against the encroachments of the sand or as a tem- 

 porary shelter, while more valuable trees are being grown. Roses. 

 — At various places old and vigorous clumps of Sweetbriar, 

 which were evident!}' many years old, were seen, as well as of 

 the little old-fashioned semi-double Cinnamon Rose. The Smooth 

 Meadow Rose (Rosa blanda. Ait.) was found in spots, covering 

 several yards in diameter and showing an unexpected power 

 to grow up and keep its head above the drifting sand. Shrubs 

 which also showed great vigour and which occured in many 

 parts of the sand hill, where evidently they had sprung up spon- 

 taneously, were the Red Osier Dogwood {Cornus stolonifera, 

 Mx.) and the Beaked Hazel (Corylus rostrata, Ait.). 



Of the wild herbaceous perennials growing naturally on the 

 sand, and the growth of which had to some extent been encour- 

 aged, the most noticeable were the Common Milkweed {Asdepias 

 coriiuti, Decne.), the Canada Thistle (Cnicus arvensis, Scop.), and 

 Couch or Quack grass (Agropyrum rcpens.h.). There were also 

 seen in some places a few plants of the Strawy Sedge (Carex stra- 

 minea, Schk.), the Ox-eye Dai.sy and the Dandelion. 



The trees which have been experimented with to the largest 

 extent by farmers living in the locality are the White Pine, 

 Canada Balsam Fir, the Norway Spruce, the White Spruce and 

 the Tamarack or American Larch. Of these, the last-named 

 has made the most rapid growth, but seems to require more pro- 

 tection than the sturdy spruces. The Balsam Fir has succeeded 

 as well as the spruces, but is a less valuable tree. The Norway 

 Spruce has been planted only to a small extent, a few hundred 

 trees having been sent from this department three years ago. 

 The^e were planted carefully, and doubtless will succeed; but 

 it is too early as yet to compare them for this purpose with the 

 White Spruce, which is the favorite conifer and is transplanted 

 from the woods in the neighborhood. The greatest satisfaction 

 is expressed bv all at the way in which willows have succeeded. 

 The kind used for the most part is the large European Tree- 



