FIRST STEPS IK GENERAL KNOWLEDGE. 



that we need not be surprised at any wonderful 

 stories we read about the colour of the sea. It 

 also sometimes happens that when meadows are 

 long under water, they are covered to the depth 

 of an inch with an entangled layer of similar 

 plants, almost like woollen cloth, and which is 

 commonly called water-flannel." 



" Are these plants of any use ?" asked Eobert. 



"I do not know of any use in the smaller 

 species ; but some of the larger confervae, called 

 Lover, are eaten by many persons, either stewed 

 or pickled. Yet we may be quite sure that it is 

 for some wise purpose that God has filled the seas 

 and rivers with such multitudes of these plants. 

 Another order of algae contains the different kinds 

 of FUCUS, or Sea-wrack) some of which are used 

 as food by the poorer classes of Ireland, Scotland, 

 Iceland, &c. Some are also employed as manure, 

 and are of importance in the manufacture of glass 

 and of soap, on account of the quantity of impure 

 soda (called kelp) which is obtained from them. 

 Those large, dark-looking weeds, with air-bladders 

 in their leaves, which you called your weather- 

 glass, were some of the common kinds of sea- 

 wrack." 



