TltE MARINE ALlLE OF (JUEKNSEV 47 



As regards the Continent, Guernsey has 356 species and varieties 

 in common with the north and west coasts of France, and 230 in 

 common witli North Spain ; so tliat here again there is a great afflnit}^ 

 thougli in a lesser degree. The Flora of Guernsey corresponds more 

 to the J^ritish than to the continental type of marine vegetation. 



The species listed for Jersey number 317, with 54 varieties and 

 forms ; of these, 204 species and varieties are common to Guei-nsey. 

 Guernsey has 161 species and varieties not yet recorded for Jersev, 

 as against 81 Jersey species and varieties not recorded for Guernsey. 

 Mr. Lester Garland attributes the differences in the terrestrial Floras 

 of the two islands to the variations of level owing to their complete 

 or partial submergence at different periods, leading to the destruction 

 of certain species. Inversely, it is possible that periods of elevation 

 of varjang degree to which the islands have also been subjected in 

 past ages, may have caused the disa])pearance of many Marine Algje. 



The ecological factors that prevail in Guernsey are often different 

 in Jersey : thus Jersey lies farther to the south and is less open to the 

 influence of the Channel Stream bringing various new elements in its 

 wake ; the shores are more protected by the coasts of France, and 

 the climate is w^armer than that of Guernsey ; the configuration of 

 the coast is different, being characterized by wide sandy bays on the 

 south, Avest, and east, the shores having a vevy gradual incline, while on 

 the north tliere are high standing cliffs. These are only a few of the 

 ])hysical conditions that would tend to control the character of the 

 Floras of Jersey and cause it to differ from that of Guernsey. 



VI. Economics. 



The inhabitants of Guernsey utilise the abundant harvests of 

 marine vegetation to a considerable and praiseworthy extent. At 

 stated seasons of the year the vraic (Fuci, etc.) is cut, and enoi-mous 

 masses of w^eed, thrown up especially on the west coast, are gathered 

 from the shores, to the extent, according to Black, of at least 

 30,000 tons annually. While these activities are in progress, as manv 

 as twent}^ or thirty carts can be seen on the beach, whence they bring 

 a varied assortment of species. Both drift and cut w^eed are spread 

 on the adjacent land to dry ; some is used for fuel, the rest burnt for 

 kelp or employed as manure. 



Kelp. — There is much indiscriminate burning of w^eed for kelp by 

 the cottagers, who sell it for about Is. per bushel. It varies in 

 quality according to the species burnt. Sharp practice occurs among 

 the less honest of the burners, Avho only partially burn the weed and 

 even mix it with sand to increase the bulk. 



The late Mr. Best of Guernsey established factories for preparing 

 potash and iodine, which found a ready sale on the island : he told me 

 that drying-frames had been erected on the island of Lihou in stacks 

 one above another w^ith intervals of about 18 inches between each ; the 

 weed was placed on the frames or racks and dried in the open. There 

 was also a drying machine heated by the burning weed, and kelp 

 was thus produced at the same time. The w^ork met with such 

 success that in 1916, IS tons of 90 7„ muriate of potash, and over 

 18 tons of chloride of sodium containing 15 7o of sulphate of j^otash 



