The Country Gaitlcivoinan 



507 



ON DRYING AND PRESERVING SEA- WEEDS. 



IN the present age, when so many of our 

 readers resort annually to the sea-side, and 

 spend hours among the rocks on the pebbly 

 beach, or wandering over the smooth sands, 

 we deem that a few words on the subject of 

 the collection and preservation of those 

 beautiful marine productions — sea-weeds — 

 may not be unacceptable. 



As we gaze into the pools which the sea 

 forms on some rocky coast, or look down into 

 the depths of the waves while sailing over their 

 surface, we cannot but be struck by the 

 beautiful, the luxuriant, and the delicate forms 

 of vegetation which we see there gracefully 

 grouped together, or waving and floating with 

 each motion of the element in which they 

 exist. 



"We need not inform sea-weed gatherers 

 that it is not on fine summer or autumnal 



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Fig. I. Senularia operculata. (Sea Hair.) 



days, when " not a breath disturbs the deep 

 serene," that they may hope to find many 

 treasures, but when heavy clouds cast their 

 sombre tint on the waters, when gusty winds 



rush over the surface of the ocean, lashing it 

 to fury, and fierce waves dash upon the rocks 

 and tumble boiling on the beach ; then, as the 

 tide recedes, should the gleaner go to work, 



[Fig. 2. Plocamium coccineum. 'The Landscape Weed.) 



seeking in all the hollows and round all the 

 obstacles likely to catch and retain the float- 

 ing harvest. Time should not be allowed for 

 sun, rain, or the air to fade and alter the 

 weeds, but endeavour to snatch them fresh 

 as they come from their briny home, and 

 when obtained, the sooner they are " floated 

 out " the better. The following is the pro- 

 cess : — 



Throw the collected sea-weeds into a basin 

 of fresh water, into which salt, in the propor- 

 tion of a teaspoonful to a quart, has been 

 infused. Cut pieces of writing-paper, or thin 

 Bristol-board, to the size required for the book 

 or portfolio about to be formed ; take a quire 

 of blotting-paper and cut that up into rather 

 larger pieces than the others, and allow at 

 least eight portions of blotting-paper to every 

 one of writing-paper. Have a soup-plate or 



