TILE ELEST-TLDE POOL. 33 



depends on the harvest of weed for manure for his 

 potato field. In the town of Gralway, some years ago, 

 it is related # that cargoes of this weed were brought 

 from Slynehead, distant between fifty and sixty miles, 

 and that some of the purchasers were, for purposes 

 of manure, about to convey it inland thirty miles or 

 more. 



It is gathered for the same purpose all along the 

 British shore ; but nowhere more industriously than 

 in the Channel Islands. 



The people of G-uernsey and Jersey call it " vraic," 

 a corruption of varec, the French word for seaweed. 

 So important is the matter, that the seasons for 

 cutting and collecting are appointed and limited by 

 law. 



The seasons are two, usually from the 10th of 

 February to the 15th of March, and from the 22nd 

 of July to the 31st of August. 



When vraicking season has come, families join, and 

 sally forth from all parts of the island to cut the vraic 

 from the rocks. Armed with reaping hooks, the legs 

 protected by strong shields of leather, the men wade 

 deep into the water, the women following as far as 

 they can go, and cut away the weed, which is raked 

 into carts and carried up beyond tide mark : many go 

 in boats to distant rocks, and bring heavy loads ashore. 

 Boys and girls work away in carrying lings full — or 

 basket loads — ever and anon getting refreshment of 

 vraicking cakes, and cold tea, or gin, or cyder; but 

 still so eager at the work that many a time the good 



: Annals of Natural History." By W. Thompson. 



C 



