COLLECTION, PRESERVATION, USES, ETC. 27 



" When descends on the Atlantic 

 The gigantic 

 Storm-wind of the equinox, 

 Landward in his wrath he scourges 



The toiling surges, 

 Laden with sea-weed from the rocks." — Longfellow. 



The season best adapted for collecting Sea-weeds is 

 from the beginning of May to the end of September ; 

 but there is no time of the year which may not be pro- 

 fitably employed on the shore. There are many kinds 

 which are only to be found in their most perfect state in 

 winter, and there are others which then assume a totally 

 different aspect to that they wear in summer. As with 

 the season, so also with the locality. There are certain 

 districts, particularly in the south and west of England 

 and Ireland, and all round the Channel Islands, which 

 are more highly favoured than others ; but there are 

 plenty of good weeds to be found on nearly every part 

 of our coast, and places which to the eye of the young 

 collector are least promising, are often prolific of in- 

 teresting species, and afford the best opportunity for 

 observing the varying appearances and modes of growth 

 of different genera. 



If, for instance, he should be at West Cowes in early 

 spring, and will look over the sea-wall of the parade, he 

 ■will find it fringed with dwarf plants of Fucus vesiculoms 

 and the boulders beneath covered with larger specimens 

 of the same species, or with the wig- like narrow-leafed 

 Fucus nodosus, on which latter the pretty little Polysi- 

 phonia fastigiata will appear in dark brown tufts. If he 

 will descend and examine the wall and boulders more 

 closely, searching in the less exposed parts, and lifting 

 or cutting away the Fuci, so as to lay bare what may be 



