Wellington Philosophical Society. 377 



grow vigorously, unless the increase of sand is so rapid as to cover them entirely, in 

 which case they are unable to recover themselves, and appear no more. 



In moderately-sheltered positions, hovi^ever, where the sand is only blowing slightly, 

 the Ammoiohila can be ^^lauted out "wath very slight loss of plants. 



From the expense of enclosures it may be impossible, for years to come, to adopt the 

 pine plantation system in many localities where the grasses may, in the meantime, prove 

 very useful. 



One great advantage of the AmmopJdIa, as a sand-fixing grass, is the ease of 

 transplantation, one plant of it broken up may give some hundreds to plant out. 



The New Zealand plants Cyperus ustulatus and Spinifex hirsutus are both excellent 

 for fixing sand ; but, after repeated attempts, I have only succeeded in transplanting two 

 or three of the former, and, I think, none of the latter plants. My attempts with seed 

 have been equally ineffectual. 



Lawson, of Edinburgh, recommends the seeds of Ammophila and Ehjmus to be 

 puddled up with wet clay and short pieces of straw rope before sowing. No doubt this 

 is an excellent plan, giving the young plant something to hold on to until it gets its roots 

 established. But the success of Ammophila must, I think, mainly depend upon close 

 attention to planting it out during the damp season. 



"Newcastle, N.S.W., 15th July, 1867. Dear Sir — In attention to your request 

 that I may give you any information I may possess on the best means of stopping 

 sand-drifts, I may, in the first j)lace, remind you of the fact that a great deal of money 

 has been spent here at Newcastle in attempting to stop them, by sowing and planting 

 grasses, and that all such attempts have failed. 



' ' I recommend, from personal observation and knowledge of the mode of stopping 

 the march of the sand-dunes on the sea-board between Bordeaux and Bayonne, that the 

 same means should be employed which have there been so uniformly successful, and are 

 as follows : — 



" Spaces along the sea-board above high water mark are hurdled in with close hurdles, 

 about 4 feet 6 inches in height, forming squares of not more than 10 yards each way. 

 In these spaces the seed of the maritime pine is sown, so that the young plants come up 

 almost as thick as wheat. As they grow in strength year by year, they are thinned out, 

 and in their growth completely prevent the further onward march of the sand and break 

 the strength of the well-known gales of the Bay of Biscay, and protect further 

 plantations inland. 



' ' By application to our Consul at Bayonne, Captain Graham, to whom I am well 

 known, I am sure he would take the trouble to obtain a few boxes or hogsheads of the 

 seed if the j)ayment of the expense of so doing was assured to him, and, as we have 

 frequent communication by ships from Bordeaux, Mr. Graham would send the seed to 

 Bordeaux to be shipped for Sydney. 



' ' This pine at full growth yields the resin which serves for sealing the wine bottles 

 of Bordeaux, and the planks from which the cases for packing wine and brandy are 

 made ; also, abundant turpentine is distilled from the resin. The tree is, in fact, a 

 profitable culture, and I recommend it as most certain of success. 



"We have plenty of the bent grass growing here on the North Shore, but it does not 

 prevent the spread of the sand. 



' ' I can give you more particulars if they be desired, and remain, &c. , William 

 Keene.— To J. R. Pringle, Esq." 



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