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FIXATION OF MOVING SANDS. 205
of hills, and for a century they have effectually consolidated it by planting reeds, maples, and firs.
The first attempts at the fixation of the dunes made in Gascony date
from the beginning of the eighteenth century. M. de Ruhat, who had acquired the ancient Captalate de Buch, sowed some of the hills of La Teste
with pine-trees; but though this plantation succeeded perfectly, the work
was not continued, and everywhere else the indolent Landese allowed the
dunes to advance to the assault of their villages. Later, the brothers
Desbiey and the engineer Villers proposed repeatedly, at various times,
the fixation of the entire district of sands. Their voices were not heard.
It is to the celebrated Bremontier that the honor is due of first causing
to be adopted and put in practice a complete plan for the culture of all
the dunes. Inspired with the writings and example of his predecessors,
'and not disdaining to interrogate the herdsmen, who knew by tradition
the means of arresting the sands, Bremontier first applied himself to the
task in 1787. The works were interrupted in 1789, resumed in 1791, and
completely abandoned again in 1793, in consequence of the opposition given by several of the inhabitants of La Teste. But important results had
been already obtained. More than six hundred and twenty acres of moving sands had been fixed in the environs of Arcachon; pines, oaks, and
vines were in perfect growth, and the sowing of every two acres had not
cost more than two hundred francs. The possibility of arresting the advance of the dunes at little cost was perfectly demonstrated.
At the commencement of this century the interrupted work was resumed, and it was completed some years ago. The dunes of Gascony,
fixed for the future, enrich the countries which they formerly threatened
to bury, and in consequence of the increasing value of the pines and their
productions, we must reckon the annual increase of public wealth on the
coast at hundreds of thousands of francs. The estimated present value
of the forests of the Landese dunes.is twenty-five millions; that is to say,
six hundred francs the acre. Thus, the means of safety applied by Bremontier has become a cause of prosperity to the inhabitants. At the
same time, several happy results, which could not be looked for at first,
have been obtained. The sand, protected from the rays of the sun by the
shade of the pines, produces herbs which are utilized as straw or food for
cattle. The marshes, which during six months of the year were transformed by rain-water into impenetrable morasses, have been drained without the intervention of man, owing to the thousands of roots constantly
pumping up the moisture from the sands. The surface of the vast ponds
situated at the eastern foot of the dunes is lowered likewise, to furnish
the forest-trees with the water necessary for their growth. Besides this,
the fixation of the dunes has caused the " blouses " to disappear, in which
men and animals were ingulfed; the sands do not advance any farther,
and the pools have ceased to exist. Science has repaired the disorders
formerly caused by man's imprudence.
| Title | The ocean, atmosphere, and life |
| Creator | Reclus, Elisée |
| Publisher | Harper |
| Place of Publication | New York |
| Date | 1873 |
| Language | eng |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Title | 00000228 |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Transcript | FIXATION OF MOVING SANDS. 205 of hills, and for a century they have effectually consolidated it by planting reeds, maples, and firs. The first attempts at the fixation of the dunes made in Gascony date from the beginning of the eighteenth century. M. de Ruhat, who had acquired the ancient Captalate de Buch, sowed some of the hills of La Teste with pine-trees; but though this plantation succeeded perfectly, the work was not continued, and everywhere else the indolent Landese allowed the dunes to advance to the assault of their villages. Later, the brothers Desbiey and the engineer Villers proposed repeatedly, at various times, the fixation of the entire district of sands. Their voices were not heard. It is to the celebrated Bremontier that the honor is due of first causing to be adopted and put in practice a complete plan for the culture of all the dunes. Inspired with the writings and example of his predecessors, 'and not disdaining to interrogate the herdsmen, who knew by tradition the means of arresting the sands, Bremontier first applied himself to the task in 1787. The works were interrupted in 1789, resumed in 1791, and completely abandoned again in 1793, in consequence of the opposition given by several of the inhabitants of La Teste. But important results had been already obtained. More than six hundred and twenty acres of moving sands had been fixed in the environs of Arcachon; pines, oaks, and vines were in perfect growth, and the sowing of every two acres had not cost more than two hundred francs. The possibility of arresting the advance of the dunes at little cost was perfectly demonstrated. At the commencement of this century the interrupted work was resumed, and it was completed some years ago. The dunes of Gascony, fixed for the future, enrich the countries which they formerly threatened to bury, and in consequence of the increasing value of the pines and their productions, we must reckon the annual increase of public wealth on the coast at hundreds of thousands of francs. The estimated present value of the forests of the Landese dunes.is twenty-five millions; that is to say, six hundred francs the acre. Thus, the means of safety applied by Bremontier has become a cause of prosperity to the inhabitants. At the same time, several happy results, which could not be looked for at first, have been obtained. The sand, protected from the rays of the sun by the shade of the pines, produces herbs which are utilized as straw or food for cattle. The marshes, which during six months of the year were transformed by rain-water into impenetrable morasses, have been drained without the intervention of man, owing to the thousands of roots constantly pumping up the moisture from the sands. The surface of the vast ponds situated at the eastern foot of the dunes is lowered likewise, to furnish the forest-trees with the water necessary for their growth. Besides this, the fixation of the dunes has caused the " blouses " to disappear, in which men and animals were ingulfed; the sands do not advance any farther, and the pools have ceased to exist. Science has repaired the disorders formerly caused by man's imprudence. |
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