I 



SEA 



fides. It IS the plant known by the name of quercns marina. 

 And it is a material much ufed as a manure ui lomc diltrift-;, 

 as thofe of Kent, and the northern counties, as well as in 

 the idands of Jerfey and Guernfey. It is found to become 

 tender and eafily reduced by remaininjr fome time in heaps, 

 and taki;ig on the procefs of fermentation. It is Itronply 

 impregnated with falinc matters, and of courfe proves a be- 

 neficial application lor laud. 



It is faid to have been found, in the praftice of Mr. Rudd 

 in Yorklhire, to anfwer well in compofirion with kelp, afhes, 

 flam from the alum-works, and lime, tne whole being mixed 

 up with earth. But in many places it is made ufe of in its 

 fimple (tate, after havuiir undergone a degree of fermenta- 

 tion, or after being incorporated with yard-dung. In the 

 Agricultural Survey of Argylefhire it is Itated, that along 

 all the coafts it is much ufed as a manure, though not always 

 valued as much as it ought. Its effcfts are not fo lafting as 

 that of dung, nor is it fo great when laid on in winter as in 

 April or May, when it is riper, and more impregnated with 

 falts. What comes alhore during fummer after the ground 

 is fcwn, the more careful farmers gather into heaps, or 

 fpread on lay-grounds. In either way it turns to little ac- 

 count. Much of the heaps melt away, and much of what 

 is fpread dries and (hrivels to nothing. If mixed with 

 earth, mofs, fern, weeds, &c. in a comport, it would pro- 

 duce a quick and ftrong fermentation, and all its juices would 

 be preferved. This is the way to make the moil of this great 

 gift of Providence, and the farmer and cottager both fhould 

 thus increafe their ftore of manure wherever it can be 

 done. 



It is likewife noticed, that in the above iflands, a-here this 

 weed has been long employed, it is cut twice in the year, the 

 fird cutting in February or March being applied as a manure 

 on the pafture grounds, nurfery lands, and thofe fown with 

 barley. It is ufed in the proportion of two cart-loads, 

 weighing two thoufand pounds each, with fix carts of (fable 

 dung to a looo feet fquare. The fecond cutting, which is 

 performed in July, is laid to dry on the fea-(hore, and after- 

 wards made ufe of as fuel ; the afhea of which are found an 

 admirable manure, efpecially on (liff land. It is fpread over 

 the furface of the land in the winter feafon, or early in the 

 fprinj;, in the proportion of about half a bufhel to the perch. 

 It is laid to have a great effeft in giving a full ear to the grain, 

 and to prevent its being laid. 



But it has not yet been afcertained upon what forts of 

 land the weed in its fimple ftate has the mort effeft. It is 

 found to afford great vigour of growth to plants in all kinds. 

 It has generally been fuppofed to have little effeft beyond 

 the immediate crop ; but when duly blended and incorpo- 

 rated with other proper earthy or other materials, it has 

 been found to be more lalfing in its eftefts, and to be more 

 proper in this application. See Manuke. 



The plants of this fort, however, wliich are made ufe 

 of as manure on the fea-coafte of this country and Ireland, 

 confill of many dillinft fpecies oi fuci, al^a, and conprvx, 

 according as they prevail in different parts. Sir Humphrey 

 Davy found by different proceifes, in the common fucus, 

 which is commonly the molt abundant of any on our fea- 

 coalls, in one mode one-eighth of gelatinous fubllance fimilar 

 to mucilage, and in treating it another way, nearly four-tifths 

 of Its weight of water, but no ammonia ; the aflics contained 

 fea fait, carbonate of loda, and carbonaceous matter. The 

 galeous matter was fmall, and chiefly carbonic acid, gafeous 

 oxyd of carbon, and a little hydro-carbonate. 



This manure is faid to be tranfient in its cfTefls on land, 

 not lading more than a fingle crop, which may be readily ac- 

 counted for from the large proportion of water, or the ele- 



SEA 



menu of water, which it contains. It decays, on expofurr 

 to the atmofphere, without any heat being produced, feeming 

 to melt down as it were, and dillolve away. A large lieap 

 has been known to be wholly reduced to a little black fibroui 

 matter in lels than two years. The firmelk part of a fiicus 

 being let remain in ajar with atmofpheric air tor a fortnight, 

 became much Ihrivellcd, and the fides of the jar covered with 

 dew, the air being found to have loll oxygen, and to con- 

 tain carbonic acid gas. 



The fufferinjr this fort of weed to ferment before it is 

 ufed, is thought wholly unneceflary, si there is no fibrous 

 matter rendered foluble in the procefs, and a portion of the 

 manure is loll. The practice of the bell farmers in the 

 wcflern parts of this country, is faid to be that of ufing it 

 as trelh as it can be had, and that the refults of this method 

 are exadlly in conformity to the theory of its operation. 

 " The carbonic acid formed by its incipient fermentation mult 

 be partly diffolved by the water fet free in the fame procefs ; 

 and thusbecome capable of abforption by the rootsof plants." 

 That the effefts of this weed as a manure mud chiefly depend 

 upon this carbonic acid, and the loluble mucilage it contains ; 

 and it has been found that " fome fucus which had fermented 

 fo as to have loll about half its weight, afforded lefs than 

 one-twelfth of mucilaginous matter, from which it may be 

 fairly concluded that lome of this fubflance is deftroyed in 

 fermentation." 



There is unqueftionably a great lofs fuftained in this and 

 perhaps other ways, where earthy matters are not ufed 

 with it. 



Sea-IVHIow, a name given by Ellis to the Gorgonla 

 anceps. 



SEA-lVorms. See Worms. 



SEA-fVorlhy, in Marine Infurance, a term applied to a 

 (hip, denoting that fhe is " tight, ftaunch, and llrong, pro- 

 perly manned, and provided with all llorcs," fo as to be in 

 all rcfpefts fit for the intended voyage. In e»i>ry infurance, 

 either on fhip or goods, there is an implied warranty that 

 fuch is the ftate of the fliip, fo that the infurer may gain 

 the premium for indemnifying the infurcd againll certain 

 contingencies ; for if the fliip is incapable of performing the 

 voyage, there is no poifibility that the infurer (hould gain 

 the premium ; and in that cafe, the contract, on his part, 

 would be without confideration, and confequently void. 

 The infurer undertakes to indemnify the inlured againll 

 " the extraordinary and unforefecri perils" of the fea ; and 

 it would be abfurd to fuppofe that any man would infure 

 againll thofe perils, but in the confidence that the fhip is in 

 a condititm to encounter the "ordinary perils," to which 

 every fhip mull be expofcd in the iifual courie of the voyage 

 propofcd. In France every fliip is liirveyed, before the 

 commencement of her voyage, by officers appointed for that 

 purpole, who make their report ; but the report upon fuch 

 furvey was not fufficient proof of lea-worthincfs, and it ilill 

 relied with the inlurers to (hew the contrary. A fhip 

 fliould be prefumcd not to have been fea-worthy, unlcfi it 

 be made to appear that her difability arofe from fea-damage, 

 or other misfortune. It is a wholefome rule, all circum- 

 ftances coniidered, fays ferjeant Marfliall, that the infured 

 (hall be held to pretty ftrift and cogent proof of the (hip'« 

 being fea-wortliy, fit for performing the voyage inliirod, 

 with the propoled cargo on board, and in all rcfpetls fit 

 for the trade m which Ihe is intended to be emph'yrd. It 

 IS alfo a wholefome rule, that this proof fhall not only be 

 cogent and ftrong to (liew the fliip'» fufficicncy at the time 

 when (lie failed, but alfo that the iiilurtd Ihall bring forward 

 all the evidence which he has upon tins fuhjed ; particiil.irly 

 what relates to the llalc flie was in when the lofi happened, 

 la 1 or 



