CHAPTER VIII 

 FORESTRY IN THE LANDES 



The Dunes (p. 169). Introduction, Kinds of Dunes (Causes), Rate of Advance, 

 Local Conditions. 



History of Reclaiming the Landes (p. 173). Periods of Work, Before Bremontier, 

 The Bremontier Period, The Dune Commission, The Bridge and Road Service, Waters 

 and Forests Service, Statistics. 



Fixing the Sand (p. 177). Construction of Coast Dunes, Forestation, Special 

 Betterments in the Landes, Cost and Price Data. 



Management of Maritime Pine Forests (p. 186). Objects of Management 

 (Protection Forests), Silvicultural Systems, Intermediate Fellings, Rotations, Felling 

 Cycles, Working Groups, New Tapping Scheme, Tapping Other Species, Resin Sales, 

 French Tools for Tapping and Their Use, French and American Methods Contrasted, 

 Technique of Tapping, Effect of Tapping, Utihzation, Logging and Local Specifications, 

 Yield of Maritime Pine, Protection. 



THE DUNES 



Introduction. — The reclamation and forestation of the sand wastes of 

 the Landes and Gironde between Bayonne and the Garonne River 

 (north of Bordeaux) is perhaps the best possible illustration of the bene- 

 fits of forestry to the individual, to the community, and to the nation. 

 The individual who pioneered in sowing these sands made a handsome 

 profit, the communities were saved from obliteration by the encroach- 

 ment of the sand dunes and, after being bankrupt, became rich, and lastly 

 France found itself sovereign of departments producing handsome 

 revenues instead of having to furnish them assistance. Before foresta- 

 tion the Landes was populated with a shiftless class of "poor whites" 

 eking out a livelihood. To-day it is one of the most progressive and per- 

 haps the most -prosperous region in France, with good schools, splendid 

 churches, and up-to-date communal buildings. Nor should the indirect 

 benefits of this work be overlooked; a region formerly fever-stricken be- 

 came healthy, and to-day places like Arcachon and Mimizan are health 

 resorts both in summer and winter. Much of this land was sand, worth- 

 less for agriculture and mediocre for grazing, but nevertheless an ideal 

 soil for the rapidly growing, resin producing maritime pine. Bremontier, 

 a great engineer and believer in forestry, was able to put the work of 

 stabilizing the dunes and forestation on a sound basis during the years 

 1787 to 1817 and the problem was solved during his administration. He 

 proved to the canny French that the work was sound financially. The 



