ALQJB OR SEA- WEEDS. 153 



since, that if some of the ladies who visit Manly Beach and other 

 places on the coast, would collect sea-weeds, and arrange them 

 systematically according to the families indicated in Dr. Harvey's 

 splendid work on Australian sea- weeds, they would not merely 

 tend to advance the study of marine botany, but also secure for 

 themselves an endless source of amusement when rambling along 

 the shores in search of the beauties of the deep. 



The satirist of old, ignorant of the value and use of sea-weed, 

 exclaims, " Birth and virtue, unless accompanied with property, 

 are viler trash than sea-weed ;" and yet in the progress of science, 

 we have lived to seethe vile sea weed applied in so many ways for 

 the benefit of man, that a volume might easily be written on the 

 subject. Some are useful for food and fuel, others for medicine and 

 manure, whilst in Glasgow alone, no less than twenty establishments 

 are engaged in the lixiviation of kelp and manufacture of iodine, 

 working up, it is stated, 3000 tons a year. Many sea- weeds contain 

 great quantities of mannite, and in China some species have long 

 been used in the preparation of ornamental articles, as well as in 

 the composition of mucilaginous beverages intended for invalids. 

 The Irish moss or Chondrus crispus, is well known as a popular re- 

 medy for pulmonary consumption, and is given in the form of a de- 

 coction, made by boiling an ounce in a pint and a half of water or 

 milk. On the coast of Ireland, it is converted into size for the 

 use of house-painters, and also employed in lieu of isinglass in 

 the preparation of cream and other confectionery. Laminaria 

 a genus which abounds on these coasts, as well as in Europe con- 

 tains a nutritive jelly, more or less saccharine. It is eaten by 

 man and beast, and is also burned for kelp. 



In collecting specimens, it will soon be found that some species 

 will not adhere to paper, whilst others become so firmly attached 

 to it as to give the idea of a picture, rather than that of a plant. 

 The former kinds may be washed in fresh water, and dried and 

 pressed as phanerogamous plants are ; but the preparation of the 

 latter 's a delicate operation requiring some patience and skill. 

 Dr. Harvey, after recommending collectors to procure large flat 

 dishes, for the purpose of washing and expanding their specimens 

 in fresh water, so as to remove from them any particles of mud, 

 sand &c., says " next, a piece of white paper, of suitable size is 

 introduced into the plate, under the expanded specimen. The 

 TJ 



