The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1910-05-27


The botany of the sandhills is full Of
interest. Two growths will strike the
visitor at once, the first in order OF
beauty being the dwarf willow (Salix
repens). This Is beautiful at all sea-
sons, whether in the catkin stage, in
the summer, or when the cottony-look-
ing seed is being discharged and the
dunes appear as If covered with snow.
Lotze, the famous Dutch botanist, was
much impressed by this growth, saying
he had never seen the like. Not that
this willow is uncommon, but it grows
in such unusual profusion here. 1t has
a curious parasite, the yellow birds
nest"-a name which accurately de-
scribes its "all-gold" appearance. The
other plant which cannot be over.
looked by the most casual visitor is the
MARIAN grass (starr grass). The hills
owe the greater part of such stability
as they possess to this growth. Its
value has long been recognized, for in
the reign of Elizabeth an act was
passed making the cutting of this grass
an indictable crime. The act is still
in force, but may sometimes be more
honored in the breach than in the OBJ
servance, for judicious cutting of the
tops strengthens the roots to such an
extent that they will extend for Is feet
or 20 feet in a lateral direction through
the sand. The binding" effect of this
grass is seen in the resistance offered
to the influence of wind where it
grows. 1t is often planted in places
where the drift of sand is too rapid.
and never fails to insure stability. OF
course, other growths, such as that of
the sea calystegia. for example, aid in
the binding process. Some idea of the
value of such growths, especially of the
MARIAN, may be gathered from the
drift where they are absent or scarce.
Not far from the dunes illustrated in
this article is a farm, the buildings of
blown sand. 1t is known as Lost
Farm"
There is plenty of wild life on the
dunes. There are many varieties OF
Many are only visitants for a brief
period, others breed among the dunes
and Stacks. Kestrels and other hawks
are common, the merlin finding the
many larks to his taste. The great
butcher-bird hunts the lizards among
the dunes, and the red-backed shrike
finds an amply-supplied larder; wheat
ears abound and scores of varieties of
birds are to be met with. OF animals
there are few-rabbits galore (conse-
quently, weasels, polecats, etc.)-with
other frequenters of sandy soils.
Shrews do not seem to thrive, though
they are numerous, for it has been OBJ
served that they are often found dead
among the dunes. Green and brown
lizards are common, and their pretty
ways well worth watching. From the
lower localities the fuller voice of the
natterjack mingles with and half
browns the less-insistent croaking of
the ordinary frog. Enormous speci-
mems of the commoner toad bury them
selves in the sand or lazily flop along
Whether one has regard to the ma
terials, formation, constant modifica-
tions, flora, fauna, or what not of the
dunes, they are full of absorbing in
terest, which many visits will not ex-
haust. 1t may be mentioned that they
constitute about the best point of out
look also. From the higher dunes on
clear day the view is broad and beau
tiful, extending to the Cumberland and
Westmoreland mountains in the north
and northeast and to the Snowdon
group in the opposite direction, while
under exceptional atmospheric condi-
tions the Isle of Man may be dis
cerned One word of entreaty to visit
ors may not be amiss: the rarer
growths on the dunes are to be re-
spected, and specimens should be gath
cred sparingly. To carry away all the
flowers of any kind that can be found
is sheer vandalism and unfair to other
botanists and to all who love to see
plant fiourishing in its native situation.
The wholesale depredations of some
who ought to know better render this
protest not unnecessary. In point of
fact, the dunes described are situated
at Birkdale, which is separate bor-
ough; but 1t is sufficiently accurate for
all practical purposes, and more COM
prehensible. to readers in general, to
call them the Southport sandhills.
JOHN URMSTON FINNY.