67 



IiACE. A French lace, of which it is one of the richest, finest, 

 strongest, and most expensive. It has a six-sided mesh of two threads wove with 

 pure hand-spun linen thread. See LACE. 



ALEXANDRITE. A variety of Chrysoberyl occurring in large twin crystals, 

 which are usually arranged in six-rayed star-shaped groups. The mineral presents 

 an emerald-green colour, duo probably to the presence of chromium ; but by trans- 

 mitted light the colour is columbine-red. It is found in the emerald-mines of 

 Takowaja, 180 versts east of Katerinburg, in the Ural Mountains ; but is not suffi- 

 ciently clear and free from flaws to bo used as a precious stone. 



AliGJS. ( Varech, Fr. ; Seegras, or Alge, Ger.) An order of cryptogamous plants, 

 including the seaweeds (fucus) and the lavers (ulva) growing in salt water, and the 

 freshwater confervas. We have only to deal with those seaweeds which are of any 

 commercial value. 



Dr. Pereira gives the following list of esculent seaweeds : 



Shodomcnia palmata (or Dulse) 

 Bhodomenia ciliata. 

 Laminaria saccliarina. 



Iridcea edulis. 

 Alarm esculenta. 

 Ulva latissima. 



Bhodomenia palmata passes under a variety of names, dulse, dylish, or dellish, and 

 amongst the Highlanders it is called dulling, or waterleaf. It is employed as food by 

 the poor of many nations; when well washed, it is chewed by the peasantry of 

 Ireland without being dressed. It is nutritious, but sudorific, has the smell of violets, 

 imparts a mucilaginous feel to the mouth, leaving a slightly acrid taste. In Iceland 

 the dulse is thoroughly washed in fresh water and dried in the air. When thus 

 treated it becomes covered with a white powdery substance, which is sweet and 

 palatable ; this is mannite (see MANNA), which Dr. Stenhouse proposes to obtain from 

 seaweeds. ' In the dried state it is used in Iceland with fish and butter, or else, by 

 the higher classes, boiled in milk, with the addition of rye flour. It is preserved 

 packed in close casks : a fermented liquor is produced in Kamtschatka from this 

 seaweed, and in the North of Europe and in the Grecian Archipelago cattle are fed 

 upon it.' Stenhouse, 



Laminaria saccharina yields 12-15 per cent of mannite, while the Shodommia pal- 

 mata contains not more than 2 or 3 per cent. 



Irid&a edulis. The fronds of this weed are of a dull purple colour, flat, and suc- 

 culent. It is employed as food by fishermen, either raw or pinched between hot 

 irons, and its taste is then said to resemble roasted oysters. 



Alaria esculenta. Mr. Drummond informs us that on the coast of Antrim, ' it is 

 often gathered for eating, but the part used is the leaflets, and not the midrib, as is 

 commonly stated. These have a very pleasant taste and flavour, but soon cover the 

 mouth with a tenacious greenish crust, which causes a sensation somewhat like that 

 of the fat of a heart or kidney.' 



Ulva latissima (Broad green laver). This is rarely used, being considered inferior 

 to the Porphyra laciniata (Laciniated purple laver). This alga is abundant on all our 

 shores. It is pickled with salt, and sold in England as laver, in Ireland as sloke, and 

 in Scotland as slaak. The London shops are mostly supplied with lavor from the 

 coasts of Devonshire. When stewed, it is brought to the table and eaten with pepper, 

 butter or oil, and lemon-juice or vinegar. Some persons stew it with leeks and 

 onions. The pepper dulse (Laurencia pinnatifida), distinguished for ita pungent 

 taste, is often used as a condiment when other seaweeds are eaten. ' Tangle ' 

 (Laminaria digitata), so called in Scotland, is termed ' red-ware ' in the Orkneys, 

 ' soa-wand ' in the Highlands, and ' sea-girdles ' in England. The flat leathery fronds 

 of this weed, when young, are employed as food. Mr. Simmonds tells us, ' There was 

 a time when the cry of " Buy dulse and tangle " was as common in the streets of 

 Edinburgh and Glasgow, as is that of " water-cresses " now in our metropolis.' 

 Society of Arts' Journal, 



Laminaria potatorum, The large sea tangle is used abundantly by the inhabitants 

 of the Straits of Magellan and by the Fuegians. Under the name of ' Bull Kelp ' it 

 is used as food in New Zealand and Van Diemon's land. It is stated to be exceed- 

 ingly nutritive and fattening. 



Chondrus crispus (chondrus, from %<M'5pos l cartilage). Carrageen, Irish, or pearl 

 moss. For purposes of diet and for medicinal uses, this alga is collected on the west 

 coast of Ireland, washed, bleached by exposure to the sun, and dried. It is not un- 

 frequently used in Ireland by painters and plasterers as a substitute for size. It has 

 also been successfully applied, instead of isinglass, in making blanc-mango and 



B" Hies ; and in addition to its use in medicine, for which purpose it was introduced by 

 r. Todhunter, of Dublin, about 1831, a thick mucilage of carrageen, scented with 



ri 



