120 BRITISH SEA- WEEDS. \_Melanosjiermeai, 



more to our present purpose to mention that the stems are 

 very generally fringed with smaller Algae^ some of which are 

 rare, such 2& Belesseria ruscifolia and Callitliamnion jplnma. 

 But of what use is this great Alga ? Can it be eaten ? 

 We have never tasted it, but the young stalks and leaves 

 are eaten along with dulse; and old Gerard tells us that 

 when well boiled, and eaten with butter, pepper, and vinegar, 

 it makes good food. Can the woody stems be turned to 

 good account ? To very good account ; though we cannot 

 rank high in the list of useful purposes, an amusing one 

 mentioned by Dr. IN^eill, — that of making knife-handles : — 

 " A pretty thick stem is selected, and cut into pieces about 

 four inches long. Into these, while fresh, are stuck blades of 

 knives, such as gardeners use for pruning and grafting. As 

 the stem dries, it contracts and hardens, closely and firmly 

 embracing the hilt of the blade. In the course of some 

 months the handles become quite firm, and very hard and 

 shrivelled, so that, when tipped with metal, they are hardly 

 to be distinguished from hart^s-horn." Neither do we envy 

 the inhabitants of Orkney, Shetland, and the Channel Islands, 

 the use of the plant as fuel. Having abundance of good 

 pit-coal at hand, we are very thankful that we need not 

 have recourse to tangle. Were it converted into peat, we 



