ADVANTAGES ON SEA-COAST n 



in less than ten centuries the sea has advanced 

 nearly a mile upon the land. 



The planting of ground close up to the high- 

 water mark with suitable trees would do much to 

 check rapid erosion, for their roots, ramifying in 

 all directions, would bind the soil together, and 

 confer upon it a resistance tending to approach 

 that .of the harder rocks. At the same time, how- 

 ever, where the soil is loose in character owing to 

 percolating water, resulting from springs or from 

 soakage, the planting of trees would be entirely 

 ineffectual, as they could not gain sufficient root- 

 hold to enable them to withstand the heavy 

 pressure of the wind, such as they would from 

 their position be required to bear. 



Drainage of the immediate land, and diversion 

 of the water from the springs into proper channels, 

 would* first of all be required, but whether or not 

 it would pay landowners to undertake this work 

 is not within the author's province to discuss. 



