COST AND PRICE DATA 183 



"For this purpose, instead of using ptu'e maritime pine seed, the following mixture 

 is sown per acre: Maritime pine, 26 pounds; furze, 2.6 pounds; genista, 2.6 pounds; 

 maram grass, 2.6 pounds; miscellaneous seed to attract birds, 2.6 pounds. This for- 

 mula is used in the Coubre Dune. In the Landes practice the maritime pine is re- 

 duced to 9 pounds per acre, while the genista is increased to 8 and the maram grass to 

 3.5 pounds. 



"The pine, the genista, and the furze come up simultaneously, and it is usually 

 noted that the pines are better if the necessary seedhngs are more numerous, moreover 

 the cover rots where it hes and gives the soil its first supply of organic material. When 

 the forestation is commenced at the very base of the dune the first stands established 

 for a distance of 660 to 980 feet damaged by the ocean winds usually remain stunted 

 and crooked; but under cover of this protective zone the stands which follow it de- 

 velop normally; it is even stated that the pines on a dune yield more resin than those 

 growing on (ordinary) ground." 



Special Betterments in the Landes. — Next to the fixation of the sand 

 and the drainage work one of the greatest problems in the Landes has 

 been road construction, since paved roads have proved extremely expen- 

 sive. It is for this reason that narrow-gauge railroads are so popular 

 when a large area is to be worked. A special kind of wagon road is 

 built of wood blocks 14 by 4 inches laid vertically. The usual dune 

 road is the so-called "paillage." Such roads are 8.8 to 6.5 feet in width 

 and the sand is dug out to a depth of 4| inches and thrown to one side. 

 Then twigs and branches are placed in the bottom and a cover of pine 

 needles and moss placed on top. Roads of this type are confined largely 

 to the dunes or pure sand areas. All main roads in the flat Landes are 

 macadamized and the others are dirt roads, sometimes covered with 

 needles. 



Cost and Price Data. — Br^montier's original estimate for the dune 

 control and forestation was about $772,000 (see p. 170). The final cost^* 

 of reclaiming 195,212 acres totaled $1,854,344 or $9.50 per acre. In 

 addition $656,200 was spent on maintenance of roads, forest houses, fire 

 lines, and barrier dunes, making a grand total of 2^ million dollars. 

 But just as Br6montier predicted, the annual revenue from this land, 

 which would otherwise have been worthless, is more than the original 

 amount spent. According to Huffel ^' the total Dune and Landes pine 

 forest (including State, communal, and private) comprised 1,611,121 

 acres which represents an investment of $10,331,290 on the following 

 basis: 



'8 Huffel, Vol. I, p. 159. 



" Huffel, Vol. I, pp. 182-183. The average costs are low because of the partial use 

 of natural regeneration after the original dune forestation had been completed; this 

 explains the difference between $9.50, 810.75 and $4.25 per acre. 



