96 
PROCEEDINGS OF 
[July, 
torical Society: Conveying the thanks of the Society for the prompt 
aid given by the National Institution in the furtherance of the histo¬ 
ry of Georgia, which, under its auspices, Dr. William Bacon Stevens 
is now engaged in writing. 
The following communication from A. J. Swift, Captain United 
States Engineer Corps, was read : 
Washington, June 24, 1841. 
Col. J. G. Totten : 
Sir: While in France during the early part of this year my attention was called 
to the operations of the French, for fixing the moveable sands lying along the 
sea coast, between the mouth of the Gironde and the Spanish frontier. 
The system consists in forming plantations of pines, and on a zone commencing 
at high water mark, and about two hundred and fifty yards wide, on which the 
pine will not grow, planting a grass called the gourbet, (arundo arenaria.) In 
planting the pine, among many precautions that are taken for ensuring its growth, 
is that of sowing with its seed the seeds of other plants of more rapid growth. 
These for several years serve as protectors to the young pine from storms, &c. The 
plants best adapted to this purpose are the ajonc, (ulex europceus,) used in a zone 
about seven hundred yards wide, and bounded on one side by the zone in which 
the gourbet alone grows, and the genet, called in England broom, (spartium scopa - 
Hum,) only used when the distance from the sea is at least nine hundred yards. 
As it appeared to me that the system which has been so successfully followed in 
Franee might prove useful in our country, I endeavored to procure the information 
that would be necessary in order to make a commencement here. I have brought 
over the seeds of all the plants used, and also a tuft of the gourbet and a twig of 
the pine. A part of the seeds I intend having planted, and, with the intention of 
depositing the plants, together with the remaining part of the seeds, with the Na¬ 
tional Institution, I take the liberty of sending them to you by the bearer of this 
note. 
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, 
ALEX. J. SWIFT, Capt. U. S. Engs. 
Mr. Dayton, from the Committee appointed to report upon the 
order of business to be adopted at the Conversation Meetings of the 
Institution, to be held on the first and third Mondays of each month, 
recommended the following plan. 
The chair to be taken and the meeting called to order precisely at 
seven o’clock, in the spring and summer, and at eight o’clock in the 
autumn and winter. The chair to be retained so long as the business 
of the meeting may, in the opinion of the Chairman, render it expe¬ 
dient, but in no case to exceed one hour. At each Conversation 
Meeting the donations received at the preceding stated meeting to be 
placed on the table for the inspection of the members, and an oppor- 
