110 Transactions. 



first line of pLintation is made, and reclamation of sand-land proceeds rapidly 

 l)ehind it. 



Cuttings are also made use of, especially of the Tamarix gallica, or 

 tamarisk. The topinambour, or Jerusalem artichoke, is also very valuable, 

 as also are the larger sun-flowers and the whole tribe of mesembryanthemums. 

 The following plants are also worthy of notice, and may be employed with 

 great advantage, viz. — ETyngium, maritimum, or sea holly ; Convolvulus 

 soldanella, or sea bineweed ; GlauciunYi luteuni, or yellow-horned poppy ; 

 Eupliorhia peplis, or purple spurge ; furze, broom, and the sallow, may be also 

 sown, though the former is far from advantageous in a plantation of trees, 

 choking the young plants. But, for rapidly arresting the march of sand, and 

 fixing it, the following plants have been found most efficacious, viz. — Aru7ido 

 arenaria, or sand-reed, known in France as the " Oyat des Cotes du Nord " ; 

 ElyTYius arenarius, or sea grass, and rye grass. The oyat is infinitely superior 

 to all the others. The best tree to sow is the Pinus maritima. 



The season for planting or sowing must be that in which there is the 

 greatest continued supply of moisture to allow time for growtli of seeds, or 

 striking of cuttings. New Zealand I consider peculiarly favourable as to 

 climate for the reclamation of such lands. 



I have by me some peculiarly valuable I'eports of M. Alexandre Adam, 

 who undertook the reclamation of downs in the Pas de Calais on a very large 

 scale for the Conseil General of that department. They were sent me as a 

 special favour by M. M. Yilmorin Andrieux, of Paris, who are friends and 

 Paris agents of this gentleman. They cover from 1864 to 1869, both years 

 inclusive, and are, I am informed by M. Yilmorin, unprocurable now, and 

 invaluable from their information. From them I have obtained many of the 

 details I have given you. He proceeds by sowing oyats and Finns maritima, 

 and conducts the matter with a view, not only to expenses of reclamation being 

 cov^ered, but to the reaping of a large profit. As the pines grow up they are 

 thinned out, and forest trees, especially oak, birch, elm, and ash, planted. 

 Within the first line of plantation seeds of these trees are sown together with 

 the oyats and pines. 



I may add that the poplar is found very valuable, both for sowing, 

 planting, and multiplying by cuttings. In some places, where the sand was 

 very deep and dry, M. Adam found that instead of sowing it was preferable to 

 take large cuttings of poplar, set them one yard deep in the sand and two 

 yards apart every way ; these almost invariably struck, even on the highest 

 sandhills, and in the most exposed situations where nothing else would grow. 

 I trust this information will be found of service, and that some grounds 

 may have been shown for urging on the Legislature the importance of 

 following the example of the French legislature, who, by their wise action, 



