10 BULLETIN 9, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
Almost all west coasts present similar problems, not essentially 
‘different from those which have been successfully solved by Bremon-. 
tier in France, and by Reventlot in Denmark. 
The California dunes, the French landes, the Dutch nS. the 
Danish heaths, and the barrens of the Baltic coast of Prussia are all 
in the same category. Abroad the abundant use of the sea reed 
Ammophila arenaria is of first importance; but in the warmer regions 
of the globe the aeacias can always follow the grasses. In some 
instances, if the acacias are freely used, they may entirely obviate the 
need for the preliminary grasses. In these warmer climates the low- 
growing acacias are much preferable to the broom and gorse so useful 
in more northern latitudes, while the larger acacias grow much faster 
than most other trees. 
ABROAD. 
AFRICA. 
The experience of several countries with acacia plantations near 
the shore emphasizes their desirability on such soils. 
Cape of Good Hope.—The official reports of the conservator of 
forests, Cape of Good Hope Colony, South Africa, gives the results of 
extensive reclamation of sandy regions near the shore. For nearly 
30 years these “‘blue books” have been crowded with information of 
interest to those who have to deal with the problem of fixing sands. 
While acacias were first grown in South Africa for tanbark, fire- 
wood, and other uses, their value in making productive the enormous 
sand wastes was soon recognized. Such situations were extensively 
seeded, sometimes with acacias alone, and sometimes in combination 
with cluster pine (Pinus pinaster), the favorite conifer of the South 
African planter. The principal species were Acacia leiophylla Benth., 
(Acacia saligna, Wendl.), Acacia longifolia Willd., and Acacia 
pycnantha Benth., all of which yield tanbark, besides some of the 
larger wattles, such as decurrens, together with many of the lessar 
shrubby species. The climatic conditions are often more detri- 
mental than those which prevail on the California sea coast, and the — 
labor problem is certainly no more satisfactory. 
Now that the plantations are well established, the seed from them 
and from other older plantations is gathered every year at small cost. 
In 1891 about 1,600 pounds of acacia seed were sown, or distributed 
to the public; the next year, 4,000 pounds, 1,963 of which were 
A.leiophylla. By 1898 the fore officers reported an annual sowing 
of 4,840 pounds of A. leiophylla seed and 4,360 of the shrubby A. 
cyclops. Summing up, not less than 20,000 pounds of acacia seed of 
various species were sown or distributed to planters in South Africa 
between 1888 and 1899. 
Port Elizabeth—In 1892, at Port Elizabeth, South Africa, 150 
acres of drifting sands were reclaimed by the broadcast sowing of 
