61 



species) is more valuable for resisting the encroachments of rolling sand 

 than is the grass under present notice, but we should not neglect our 

 indigenous plants. The " Spiny Boiling Grass/' planted already by 

 bountiful Nature along many parts of our coast, is capable of much 

 good if landowners and public officers would only encourage its growth 

 as a sandstay. Stock will rarely eat it, which circumstance is both an 

 advantage and a drawback. It may be propagated readily, and it is 

 of rapid growth. The " Spiny Rolling Grass" and the "Marram" are 

 different in habit; the former is prostrate, while the latter is tall 

 and erect, like rushes. 



In this connection, the Newcastle sand-drift forces itself at once on 

 our notice. At Newcastle and at other places on our coast (e.g., 

 Wollongong), the " Spiny Rolling Grass" has done much service, 

 although it promises to fall into comparative neglect through the 

 phenomenal success which has attended the introduction of the 

 " Marram Grass" into Australia. 



As has been pointed out in the course of an inquiry in regard to 

 sandstays in India, no one plant is serviceable in all situations for the 

 purpose ; but where it is desired to utilise a grass, the " Spiny Rolling 

 Grass" should always be given a trial. One advantage of it is its 

 extensive geographical range, for it is practically indigenous all round 

 the Continent. Sydney people will find quantities of it at the Spit, 

 near Manly, and at Lady Robinson's Beach. 



Many other of our native plants have been used as sandstays in 

 addition to the grasses, e,g., Acacia longifolia,Will&., var. Sophoroe, 

 a golden wattle, with very spreading habit ; several of the tea-trees, 

 and particularly Leptospermum loevigatum, F.v.M., together with 

 several of the Melaleucas. Then, some of our Gasuarinas are most 

 valuable, particularly C. glauca, the, swamp oak, and G. Cunningham- 

 iana — the river oak. To cite but one instance, one of the islands in 

 • the Bega River would be washed away if the oaks on it were felled, 

 and hence they are protected by the Forest Department. An allied 

 species (G. equisetifolia) is very largely planted in India in almost pure 

 sand, particularly in the Madras Presidency. 



In other countries the question of preventing the encroachment of 

 sea-sand upon adjacent land has often become of the greatest import- 

 ance. The reclamation of the " Landes " of south-western France 

 occurs at once to most of us. Here millions of acres of desert wastes 

 have been transformed into valuable land through the success which 

 has attended the planting of the Maritime or Cluster Pine (Pinus 

 pinaster, or maritima) , and not only has the problem of arresting the 

 sand been solved, but the trees are tapped for resin, which is distilled 

 for turpentine, forming the basis of a great industry. 



Habitat and range. — Found round nearly the whole of the Australian 

 Colonies, on the sea-shore. It extends also to New Caledonia and 

 New Zealand. 



Reference to Plates. — Male plant — 1, creeping stem, with foliage; la, inflorescence; 

 2, spikelet. Female or fertile plant — 1, creeping stem with foliage ; la, inflorescence ; 

 2, spikelet ; 3, ovary, with feathery stigmas. 



