- / 



Another very important product is that known as Seaweed 

 Glue, called in Japan " Funori," and made principally from 

 marine plants of the genus Gloiopeltis. This is used as a 

 stiffening paste or size for woven fabrics, in putting on wall- 

 paper, and in many other ways. Mixed with lime and sand 

 it forms an excellent cement or stucco. The size or glue 

 is easily made by cutting the seaweed into moderate-sized 

 pieces, boiling it for a short time, and then filtering the mass. 

 The filtrate is the desired substance. 



Certainly one of the most important products of the sea- 

 weed industries is the substance known as Vegetable Isin- 

 glass, and called by the Japanese " Kanten." This is 

 pearl 3^ white, shiny, and semi-transparent, having in block 

 form a loose, flaky structure, and is tasteless and odorless. 

 In cold water it swells but does not dissolve, but in boiling 

 water it is readily soluble, and on cooling forms a jeUy. In 

 the manufacture of this substance probably more than one 

 kind is used, but the recognised plant is a species of Gelidium. 



In Japan and elsewhere, Kanten (often known underagi-eat 

 variety of names) is used largely for food in the form of jellies 

 (often colored), and as adjuvants of soups, sauces, &c. It 

 is also used for purifying sake, the native wine made from rice. 

 In other countries Kanten is employed in a variety of ways, 

 although chiefly in food preparations where a gelatine is re- 

 quired, such as jellies, candies, pastries, and many desserts, in 

 all of which it is superior to animal isinglass. It is also used 

 for the sizing of textiles, the stiffening of the warp of silks, the 

 clarifying of wines, beers, coffee, and other drinks, the making 

 of moulds required by workers in plaster of Paris, and some- 

 times in the manufacture of paper. In China one of its uses 

 is as a substitute for edible bird nests. The large consign- 

 ments of square Kanten to Holland are doubtless destined 

 for the schnapps factories. A very important use in ah 

 civilised countries is as a culture medium in bacteriological 

 work ; the product is known in the scientific world under 

 the name " Agar-agar," which is the Ceylonese equivalent of 

 Kanten. For this purpose a very pure grade of slender 

 Kanten is required. Other plants beside Gelidium are used 



