38 LAND WON FROM THE SEA 



nature of all this agricultural fertility crop up on every 

 side. Where the turf lies in knolls and hillocks, the 

 sea-shells may still be seen lying bleached or purple 

 among the roots of the grass, and what would be taken 

 for snail-shells elsewhere are found to be little clusters 

 of the periwinkles and mussels for which Brading 

 Haven was once famous. But perhaps the greatest 

 success in the conversion of the old harbour to daily 

 use is the present condition of the " light, running 

 sand " near the sea. This sand must have a stratum 

 of clay beneath it, for groves of poplar trees planted 

 on it are now in vigorous growth. But for some 

 years the land lay barely covered with cup-moss, lichen, 

 and thin, poor grass, a haunt of rabbits and shore-birds. 

 It is now converted into a golf-ground, and studded 

 at short intervals with level lawns of fine turf for 

 "putting greens," which daily extend their area, and 

 promise before long to convert the " running sands " 

 into a beautiful and park-like recreation-ground. The 

 beauty of the whole scene is much increased by the 

 number of half-wild swans, which are constantly in 

 movement, either swimming upon the pools and 

 streams, or flying to and from the sea. These swans 

 are among the natural agents busied in aiding the 

 reclamation of the land. They feed almost entirely 

 upon the weeds which would otherwise choke up the 

 dykes, and it is believed that two swans do as much 

 work in keeping the water-ways free and open as 

 could be done by a paid labourer. 



The following notes on the reclamation, and the 



