62 ROMANCE OF LOW LIFE AMONGST PLANTS. 



the coasts frequently attain great size, and a 

 tough leathery consistence. The most valuable, 

 commercially, was formerly the Angola weed, from 

 the Portuguese settlement of Angola, in South 

 Africa. While Italy enjoyed a monopoly in the 

 manufacture of orchil, large quantities were supplied 

 by Teneriffe, the Canaries, Azores, and neighbouring 

 islands ; the inhabitants farmed out the right to 

 gather the orchella weeds, paying therefor con- 

 siderable sums to the Government. Prior to this 

 these lichens were only known in the islands, and on 

 the shores of the Levant. It is affirmed that the 

 capability of their yielding a dye, by maceration in 

 ammonia, was discovered accidentally by a Florentine 

 merchant who was travelling there, and who observed 

 that putrid urine tinged the plants red or purple. 

 Returning home he turned this hint to account by 

 commencing the manufacture of orchil, which he 

 carried on for a long time with great secrecy, under 

 the name of "Tournesol," and thereby acquired a 

 considerable fortune. 



This little episode will exhibit how a very small 

 and comparatively insignificant plant, which for a 

 long time appeared to have no special mission upon 

 earth, and seemed to be of no value to man or beast, 

 became the nucleus of an important industry, and, 

 for very many years, supported a host of collectors, 

 and employed a considerable population, in the 

 manufacture and application of orchil dyes. 



Reindeer Moss. 

 Amongst what are termed the lower orders of the 



