564 Revieivs — G. 0. Case — Sand Dunes and Sand Wastes. 



in a general north-east and south-west direction. In European 

 Russia the zones generally recognized are, beginning in the south-east, 

 the salt-steppes, the dry steppes, the Tchernosem, which may be 

 compared to the prairies of America, the grey and bleached forest 

 soils (podsol zone), and finally the frozen tundras of the far north. 

 Besides these certain minor transitional forms are also recognized. 

 None of the Russian soils appear to be quite similar to the normal 

 meadow soils and * brown earths ' of Western Europe and Eastern 

 America. 



In the book before us a full account is given of the origin and 

 characters of each of the principal soil-types of the Russian Empire, 

 the whole subject being treated mainly on a climatic basis. The 

 classification adopted is chiefly founded on the work of Sibirzev and 

 Dokutchaiev, and the book forms a most valuable resume of recent 

 work of great importance, hitherto inaccessible ; it should be carefully 

 studied by all soil-workers in spite of the unnecessarily high price. 

 R. H. R. 



XII. — Coast Sand Dunes, Sand Spits, and Sand Wastes. By 

 Gkrald 0. Case. pp. xii + 162. London: St. Bride's Press, 

 1914. Price os. net. 

 rpHE object of this little book is to direct attention to the waste 

 _L and devastation produced by the inland movement of sand dunes, 

 and to show the beneficial results which follow when inblown sand 

 is allowed to accumulate under human guidance, and fixed by 

 artificial means so as to provide a permanent protection rather than 

 a continual menace to the coast. Sand dunes may be fixed in three 

 ways: (1) by planting a belt of suitable grasses and slirubs just 

 above high-water line ; (2) by building an embankment of earth or 

 sand ; and (3) by constructing a row, or series of rows, of openwork 

 fencing. In these ways the formation of barren wastes by the inland 

 drifting of sand is prevented, a line of defence against coast erosion 

 is maintained, and it becomes possible to reclaim sand wastes already 

 existing and convert them into pine woods, which are not only more 

 beautiful, but which become, in the course of time, an important 

 commercial asset. 



Mr. Case deals adequately with these phases of his subject, not 

 only from the engineering point of view but also from a geological 

 standpoint. A. large number of examples are cited, drawn from 

 localities in all parts of the world, a feature which gives the book 

 a special value as a work of reference, but which necessarily detracts 

 from its quality as a readable work. The matter is, however, soundly 

 treated throughout, and can be confidently accepted as an authoritative 

 statement of a subject of extreme economic importance. It should 

 prove to be of great value to coast engineers and local authorities who 

 have to deal with the problem of moving sands. The book is well 

 illustrated with numerous photographs and line drawings. The price 

 appears to be somewhat excessive, and we would suggest that in 

 a later edition the index, which is incomplete in its present form, 

 should be considerably amplified, especially in regard to local place- 



