22 SEASIDE TREES AND SHRUBS 



of protection would prove rather a costly affair. 

 They are also subject to constant washing down 

 by rains. They are sometimes planted for the 

 purposes of affording shelter to grounds used for 

 raising and transplanting nursery stock. 



Turf dykes are built either of turfs alone 

 or of turfs and soil ; the latter makes by far 

 the most solid construction, and fewer turfs are 

 required in the building. This is an advantage, 

 as one great objection to turf dykes is the 

 quantity of turfs used in their construction. 

 These turfs are generally cut from each side 

 of the dyke, and they could be turned to much 

 better account by making use of them in the 

 preparation of the soil for planting. 



A turf dyke can be constructed on the following 

 plan, of which diagram No. 9 is given as an illustra- 

 tion : Mark out the base upon which to build the 

 turf dyke, which must not be disturbed by the 

 spade, 3 feet 6 inches in width, cut the turfs to 

 be used in the building about a foot square, and 

 from 3 to 4 inches in thickness, according to the 

 character of the soil and the depth to which the 

 fibrous roots in quantity are found, as these roots 

 hold the soil particles together. Lay two rows of 

 turfs along the outer lines of base, and build up 

 as shown in the diagram (No. 9), filling up the 

 centre with soil (the whole should be firmly beaten 

 down as the work proceeds), with slanting sides to 



