8 FIRST STEPS IN" GENERAL KNOWLEDGE. 



larly useful in those swellings of the throat called 

 goitre. In some parts of South America where 

 this disease is common, the inhabitants chew the 

 stems of these weeds, and call them by a name 

 which means ' goitre-stick.' " 



" Some of the stems are very thick," said Mary, 

 " and one very tough sort, I remember, you called 

 sea-girdles" 



"Did I tell you of the odd use these girdles 

 are sometimes put to? They are cut in pieces 

 about four inches long ; and while they are fresh, 

 the hilt of a pruning-knife is stuck into each 

 piece. As the stem dries, it clings closely to the 

 hilt and forms a good and strong handle, and from 

 its withered and brown appearance it looks very 

 much like buck's-horn, especially when tipped with 

 metal. Thus a number of knives can be easily and 

 cheaply finished off." 



The children thought the sea-wracks very use- 

 ful weeds, especially when they found, that if fuel 

 is scarce, they can be dried and used for that 

 purpose ; that the young shoots are eaten in Edin- 

 burgh, as "tangles," and that cattle will thrive 

 on the plants when boiled. Robert also remem- 

 bered that it was from the air-bladders of one of 



