632 PROTECTION AOATNSST SHIFTING SAND. 



against the winds IjFowing at right angles to the fences. Several 

 of these horseshoe-shaped fences may be made, at suitable 

 distances, parallel to one another, the distance between them 

 depending on the locality ; on level ground a fence will afford 

 shelter for 200 to 230 feet, but on hilly ground for not more 

 than half these distances, and on steep hill-sides not more 

 than 60 feet. 



One man can make from GO to 6G feet of fencing in a 

 day, non-inclusive of the labour of transporting the material. 

 Fence-construction is therefore costly, and fences are not used 

 at present so much as formerly, as they do not thoroughly 



Fig. 287. 



fulfil their object. In general, the formation of protective 

 fences is now not followed, as they are expensive to erect, and 

 the results are not considered sufficiently good. 



b. Cover ill !i the' Sand, 



Before covering the sand, all unevennesses on the area should 

 be smoothed down. The wind acts with more force on rough 

 projections in the sand ; and the steeper the hillocks, the more 

 readily does the sand roll down them. Small depressions 

 should be filled up with brushwood or wattle-work. 



Branches, weeds, giass, seaweed, and sods or straw are the 

 materials used, and, for the sake of economy, the nearest 

 available material should be chosen. Branchy stems of Scots 

 pine, juniper-bushes, heather, broom, reeds or rushes form 

 useful material, and sods are cut from grass or heather land. 



Covering the ground with sods is the best method, and is 

 much followed in Hannover and Oldenburg, whilst straw is used 



