willows: theie growth, use, and importance. 41 
in the mud and sand. In sinking the mat into position stone is 
used. This process is shown in Plate VIII, figure 2. 
Table 17 shows, as near as it is possible to obtain the figures, the 
annual amount of willow used in revetment work. Where annual 
figures are not available, the average amount used for several years 
is given. Approximately 5 per cent of the amount is cottonwood 
or other species. 
Table 17. — Amount of willow used in revetment work. 
Cords. 
Missouri to Ohio River, average of 3 years 25, 000 
Missouri River, Fort Bentou to Kansas City, 1913 12, 000 
Missouri River, Kansas City to mouth, 1913 43, 580 
Mississippi River, St. Paul, Minn., to Missouri River, average of 4 years 100, 000 
Mississippi River, Cairo, 111., to White River, Ark., 1913 48, 360 
Mississippi River, White River to Warrington, Miss., 1913 51, 633 
Mississippi River, Warrington, Miss., to Head of Passes, 1913 53, 350 
Mississippi River, South and Southwest Passes, average of 4 years 23, 330 
Arkansas and White Rivers 900 
Total 358, 153 
WILLOW AS A SAND BINDER. 
One of the most important uses of willows is for binding shifting 
■ sand. Along the Atlantic coast and the Great Lakes, and to a lesser 
extent along the Pacific coast, there are large areas which are being 
reclaimed or will be reclaimed as land becomes more valuable. On 
the eastern shore of Lake Michigan considerable work has been done 
and more should be undertaken, as the dunes are moving in in many 
places and covering valuable farm land. Plate IX shows a dune 
being reclaimed naturally by willows and an older portion where 
poplar has followed the willows. Ordinarily it is customary to start 
grass first in such places, but where conditions are favorable willows 
can be started without this preliminary step. In Russia large areas 
have been reclaimed, principally by means of the Caspian willow 
(Salix acutifolia). The willow is very successful where brush is 
available and can be scattered over the sand areas as a temporary 
shelter under which it may gain a foothold before being subjected to 
the full force of the wind. On the Pacific coast loose straw was 
thrown on the land, and although the wind was very strong a sur- 
prisingly large amount was not blown away. Such a planting, how- 
ever, to be effective must begin on the lee side of a body of water or 
strip of timber or some object that prevents the blowing of the sand 
upon the planting to any appreciable extent. Planting begun in 
this way can be continued out over the shifting area indefinitely 
with little chance of failure. It is, however, worse than useless to 
attempt to plant up an area which has adjacent to it on the wind- 
ward side a body of loose sand. 
