205 



Fucus serratus is most popular and enjoys the highest reputation, 

 whilst the thick fleshy strands of Laminar ia are least thought of: 

 indeed, it is considered that they injure the soil if used too freely. 

 The weed is generally gathered between September and March, 

 and is by far the most important fertiliser in the Islands. 



In the Isle of Thanet sea-weed is used in several ways. The 

 fresh weed is spread at the rate of ten to fifteen tons per acre over 

 lucerne or sainfoin in the early autumn, and then raked off in 

 spring, just before the crop starts. It is also put on the land at 

 the rate of ten to fifteen tons per acre before ploughing, and is 

 found to be very beneficial to such market-garden crop as cabbage, 

 celery, asparagus, &c., as well as the ordinary farm crops. Some 

 is also thrown into the dung mixen. 



However, it cannot be said to be a very important manure at 

 the present time, and is collected only when other work can be 

 left, the reason probably being that cartage is heavy. A load 

 weighs about a ton, and often requires two horses to get it from 

 the shore ; the enormous quantities thrown up by high tides when 

 the wind is from the north or north-east making a fringe along 

 the high-water mark which may be three or four feet in thickness, 

 sometimes prove more than the market gardeners and farmers on 

 the coast can profitably deal with. 



A considerable amount of seaweed is collected in Scotland, 

 where the right of gathering still sometimes forms part of the 

 covenant with the landlord, and has even been the subject of 

 litigation. It appears to be held in special favour on. the south- 

 west coast, where there is a good deal of light soil, and cartage 

 presents no particular difficulties ; indeed, it is perhaps the chief 

 manure used for early potatoes on the Ayrshire coast, being ap- 

 plied at the rate of 25 to 30 tons per acre in autumn, and then 

 ploughed in. What is gathered in summer is put on top of the 

 " middens " till wanted. Further up the West coast, and also on 

 some of the islands, seaweed is used by the crofters, but it does 

 not appear to be held in so much favour on the East coast, ex- 

 cepting where it can very readily be obtained. 



Seaweed is largely used on the Irish coast and on the French 

 coast. At Mont St. Michel there is a considerable trade in seaweed 

 as manure. It is also of great importance in some of the New 

 England coast districts. 



The composition of seaweed shows some variation with the 

 time of cutting. Mr. Toms' analyses of Jersey seaweeds, made at 



