Chap. XVII. Appendix.

413

5. Schools ought to be encouraged by the authority of Govern-ment, wherever such establishments are formed. Such institu-tions, indeed, ought neither to be formed nor supported solely byGovernment. Every landlord, every tenant, and every societyor class of the community ought to concur in such a measure.And there can be no doubt of such concurrence, if a plan wereonce digested for this purpose. It is truly gratifying to everyfeeling heart, to hear that a plan is already in agitation, of esta-blishing itinerary teachers over the Highlands and Hebrides .Such a plan claims the protection and powerful aid of the High-land and Bible Society, and even of the Legislature itself.

6. Sand drift is an evil peculiar to the Highlands and Hebrides .And when we see the National Institute of France making suchvast exertions to remove such a fatal and destructive calamity,surely it becomes the Government of Britain to exert itself insuch a cause.

The Pinus maritimus was discovered by two of the Membersof the National Institute. It is the only tree that flourishes onmoving sands; and the coasts of Bourdcaux, formerly sterile inthemselves, and destructive to the neighbourhood, by sand-drift,are already partly covered with this plant.

Many of the Gramina may serve a similar purpose. Sea-bent,sea lime-grass, sea canary grass, spear leaved ovachc, spurry,sea bugles, sea bird-weed, salt-wort, sea knot-grass, Gallowayfescue, and many others, might be cultivated on blowing sands,to cover the surface with a green sod, and prevent its drifting.And Government ought to encourage every experiment for thispurpose. The proprietors and tenants would in this case followthe example, wherever they saw it crosvned with success.