15 152 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



The " rods " (stipes) of the various Lamiuariae employed are collected as 

 they are cast ashore in autumn, winter, and spring, and placed on the 

 stone walls till burning time. In February and March the weed is also 

 cut by hand during the lowest tides. From April 1 st until June the " tops " 

 or " leaves " (laminae) are collected in addition to the rods ; and these are 

 mixed with the latter when burning. It is during April and May that 

 L. Cloustoni sheds its fronds, hence the term " May Weed." The name " Eed 

 Wrack " is given on account of its red-brown colour after exposure to weather. 



Of the weeds employed, the bulk of the rods consist of L. Cloustoni, 

 together with a slightly smaller amount of L. digitata. L. saccharina and 

 Sacchorhiza bulbosa are also used and are equally valuable ; but they are not 

 washed ashore in anything like the same quantity. A storm or ground 

 swell provides the islanders with several days' work, the " rods " being 

 picked out for kelp, and the tops used (except in April and May, when part 

 is set aside for burning) on the fields as manure. The foliage of L. saccharina 

 bleaches at once with rain, and is then of no value for kelp ; L. digitata 

 bleaches less readily ; and L. Cloustoni, as noted above, turns reddish-brown. 

 Alaria cscidenta and Halidrys siliquosa are recommended in the Leaflet, and 

 are used in small quantities with the " tops." Ascophyllum and Fucus spp. 

 yield but a very small amount of iodine, and are usually rejected. One of 

 the most important papers on the commercial value of algae is that by 

 Stanford ('84), which, though somewhat out of date, has not been superseded. 



Manure. 



Seaweed is extensively employed as manure all round the coast. In many 

 spots the drift-weed washed ashore is sufficient for requirements; but in 

 others the weed is cut by hand from the rocks, whilst in a few localities it is 

 actually cultivated. 



A good dressing of seaweed is always applied to potato beds previous to 

 planting : in some cases so soon before that the sets are practically placed 

 over a layer of fresh weed. It is usually put on stubble after cutting oats, 

 and applied again to the land in spring. A dressing is also spread on meadow 

 land ; and in May the reddish fronds of the " May Weed " (= L. Cloustoni), and 

 the streaks of white due to patches of bleached L. digitata and L. saccharine, 

 give striking colour-effects on the green fields. 



The species employed vary according to the nature of the shore. On 

 exposed rocky coasts Laminaria is washed up ; and where obtainable in plenty 

 as in Clare Island, other weeds are despised. Laminaria is industriously 

 collected during winter and spring, and carted or carried by panniered ponies 



