Kirk. — On the Reclaviation of Sand Wastes. 45 



well worth a trial, and the necessary modifications in our circumstances would 

 soon be ascertained. If our friends learned in those things will indicate such 

 littoral grasses as have the properties of root-spreading and, at the same time, 

 striking moderately deep into and flourishing on nearly pure sand, the 

 practical I'esult cannot be very uncertain, nor the application difficult. It 

 is, in the first place, only a carpet of any sort of vegetation which will 

 prevent the driving of the surface that is wanted. This will allow tlie 

 planting of trees, and, wliere the soil is the more suitable, proper pasturage 

 grasses can afterwards be substituted. But the great result would be attained 

 if even the onward progress of the sand was arrested, and, as it must evidently 

 be commenced at the sea, every year's delay loses not only so much more land 

 now good, but increases the width of waste to be reclaimed in order to preserve 

 the remainder. 



Art. IX. — Notes on the Plants best Adapted for the Reclamation of Sand 

 Wastes. By T. Kirk, E.L.S. 

 [Read before the AucMand Institute, 6th October, 1873.] 

 As attention has been drawn to the importance of preventing the further 

 inland extension of our coastal sand wastes by the recent papers of Mr. 

 Whitcombe* and Mr. Stewart,t it seems desirable to point out the various 

 indigenous and exotic plants available for the purpose, and to state their 

 respective advantages and disadvantages so far as demonstrated by actual 

 experience or close observation. 



Mr. Heale has well shown that, as a general rule, it will be found much 

 more difficult to reclaim the sand wastes on the west coast of the North Island 

 than those on the east, on account of the greater set and force of the wind on 

 the former. While assenting to the general truth of this statement, I am led 

 to the belief that in all except perhaps a few peculiar localities, the object 

 sought may ultimately be obtained by commencing the work of reclamation 

 at high-water mark, since the added sand, except in the case of nioving sand- 

 hills, is chiefly derived from the space between tide-marks. If, therefore, Ave 

 can succeed in arresting this at the extreme verge of high water, the mass 

 will accumulate so slowly, owing to local eddies and coastal dispersion, as in 

 most cases to admit of the growth of arboreal vegetation forming a permanent 

 barrier. 



When the sand is but slightly exposed to tlie action of the wind, the 

 process is very simple, or rather a number of simple processes may be adopted. 



• Trans. N.Z. Inst., Vol. V., p. 108. t See Art. VIII. 



