GARDENS OF THE SEA 



179 



special struggle ! How long would the stiff 

 growths of the earth withstand the wrench of 

 the wave and the ceaseless pelting of sand and 

 gravel along the beaches? Nature does not at- 

 tempt their kind in the sea. There is nothing 

 brittle about the weeds that live in the shallow 

 waters along shore. Their long stems bend and 

 stretch like rubber, and their rounded fronds 

 and thongs are tough as leather. Add to this a 

 glossy, slippery surface that offers little friction 

 to the water, with air bladders or pods tliat 

 keep the plant from being torn or dragged 

 upon the bottom, and you have a growth that 

 rolls and sways in a heavy sea and comes to 

 no more harm than the bending grass on the 

 prairies. 



And out of perfect adaptation to use comes 

 beauty. What sinuous lines, what marvellous 

 curves, the waves beat into these sea weeds ! 

 The ribbons and streamers and tresses swing 

 and toss in the sea until the very grace of the 

 wave itself is theirs. The forms of Chorda, of 

 Lessonia, of Macrocystis are more pliable than 

 whip cord, more willowy than willow, more 

 wavy than the streaming hair of Masnads or 

 sea sirens. The commoner forms of wrack, of 

 kelp, of tangle {Laminaria digitata), of what, 

 for lack of a better name, is called "rock 



Peculiar 

 adaptation. 



Strength 

 and fitneaB 

 of sea weeds. 



Grace of sea 

 weeds. 



