BY MANURES FROM SEA-WEED. 303 



for this purpose, and the changes which are wrought upon 

 them, in their conversion into vegetable food. 



I. Sea-iceed. Sea weeds form a kind of manure which is 

 much used along the sea board. The manure is formed from 

 several species of plants, which are washed upon the shore by 

 the waves and either carted directly upon the soil or used for 

 litter and composted with other substances. The following 

 are the principal varieties. 



1. Ribbon loced, or narrow-leaved kelp, when green, is 

 nearly four-fifths water. When dry, 400 grains, burned to 

 ashes, yielded, of 



Carbonate of soda (not weighed) 

 Phosphate of lime "^ 3.3 



Carbonate of hme 2.U 



Si lex 0.2 



Magnesia 3,5 



*' The vegetable matter of kelp is very gelatinous, and melts 

 down during fermentation into a semi-liquid mass." The 

 Scotch farmers make great use of this substance, and prefer 

 laying it directly on to the soil, in its green state. 



2. GwMkg.t££3i moss contains a gelatinous matter, similar to 

 animal gelatine. It is used for food, and makes a delicate 

 blanc-mange. < > ^ ^. ^ 



3. Rock ?veed is highly* gelatinous in its nature and very 

 valuable as a manure. 



4. Eel grass consists mostly of water and is much less 

 valuable. 



5. Sea coral is often thrown up with sea weeds, and adds 

 greatly to their value. It is composed of the following sub- 

 stances : 100 parts contain, of 



Animal matter 14 I Phosphate of lime 1 



Carbonate of lime d,5 | — rrrx 



The quantity of salts contained in sea weeds renders them a 

 very valuable manure. 



Preparation and application of sea iveeds. If sea weed is 

 to be transported to some distance, it should be dried, to evapo- 

 rate the water. It may then be spread directly upon the 



