38 CULTURE OF THE MARITIME PINE. 



selves against the sea-breeze, — we find only a herbaceous vegetation, 

 which comprehends the species which have been mentioned, and with 

 them the following : — Elychrysum stoechas (a species of everlasting), 

 carex aremiria (sand carex), Unaria serpyllifolia (thyme-leaved toad 

 flax), thymus serpylliom (wild thyme), hoeleria cristata (crested koeleria), 

 aira canescens (gray hair grass), lotus corlatus (nicurd's foot trefoil), 

 jasione montana (common sheep's bit), silene hicolor (a species of 

 campion, or catchfly), cdyssicm arenarium (sand alyssum), hieraceum 

 prostatum (a species of hawliwood), anthyllis vulneraria (lady's fingers), 

 astragalus hayonensis (a species of milk vetch), medicago maritima 

 (seaside medick), dianthus gallicus (French pink), ononis spinosa 

 (prickly rest-harrow), sedum acre (biting stoncrop), diotis candidissiam 

 (white cotton weed), thrincia hirta (hairy thrincia), Grithmum mariti- 

 mum (sea camphire), artemisia crinthmifolium (camphire leaved worm- 

 wood)." 



It is the zone which succeeds this last, extending from Bayonne to 

 Cape Breton, which has, by the care of the Government, been devoted 

 to the culture of the maritime pine. 



In regard to outlying portions of the zone of plantations, he says : 

 — "It is interesting to visit the maritime pines, which look like 

 advanced posts, planted there to withstand the sea, and arrest the 

 winds and the sand. Although they are under the shelter of an en- 

 ormous screen of sand accumulated by the waves, they are all mutil- 

 ated and deformed ; no one has kept his head ; they have the trunk 

 laid against the ground, the branches are covered up with sand, and 

 having assumed the appearance of young pine layers. The sea winds 

 have levelled up the sand on them to a depth of 1.50 meters, or 5 feet. 

 The grains of sand driven by the tempest give to the leaves violent 

 and multiplied strokes, which make them become yellow and dry. 



" In proportion as the distance between them and the sea is in- 

 creased, being numerous and varied, they give mutual support ; 

 they also increase in size, and resume by degrees their natural form. 



"Beyond this zone of deformed and stunted pines we find at about a 

 kilometre, (two thirds of a mile) from the sea, beautiful pineries 

 which furnish in abundance wood and resin. But it must always be 

 born in mind that these pines never acquire the dimensions, the 

 regularity, and the vertical growth of the pineries farther inland ; 

 the influence of the sea makes itself be felt over a radius of from 2 

 to 3 kilometres (or two miles)." 



Sometimes a spontaneous and vigorous vegetation fixes and oonsoli- 



