06 INTRODUCTION. 



I dare not enlarge by telling how much use is made of 

 the materials derived from kelp in the manufacture of soap, 

 of alum, of green bottle-glass, See, I shall merely mention 

 that even the l-elj) 7vaste is serviceable as manure. And if 

 the waste be serviceable — how much more the kelp itself, 

 if used in a pulverized state ! They who know its com- 

 ponent parts are confident that it would be more nutritious 

 as the food of plants, than many manures that are purchased 

 at a high price and brought from afar. 



Before closing a statement of the direct uses of Sea- 

 weeds, we may quote the words of Professor Burnett in his 

 'Outlines of Botany.' ^' Alga inutilis, exclaims an ancient 

 poet; vilior alga est, in a tone of contumely he adds; 

 refunditur alga, repeats another Bard. The sea itself 

 spurns forth the nathless flag — that flag the gathering of 

 which for years enriched both peer and peasant on our 

 northern coasts ; — the very flag that now affords the iodine, 

 wliich really does relieve that evil, which the manus regalis, 

 the boasted royal touch (if it ever benefited the superstitious) 

 so long has failed to cure.'' 



Time and space would fail us were we to attempt to 

 enumerate all the uses of Sea-weeds, but we shall not 

 enlarge much more. I cannot, however, forbear quoting 



