INTRODUCTION. 



evaporate; this is so well known in Scotland that 

 we find an old adage current there respecting it, 

 saying, " Better unled than nnspread." To 

 leave it to ferment in heaps, as is often done, 

 is allowing the most valuable qualities to escape, 

 especially when exposed to heavy rains — the 

 saline particles are washed away, and it be- 

 comes nearly worthless. Both cattle and sheep 

 are said not only to eat with avidity the grass 

 on which it is spread, but thrive faster, and are 

 sooner fattened, than on grounds to which it is 

 not applied. Sea-weed is also found to be a 

 very good manure for most garden vegetables; 

 large crops of onions are raised on ground well sup- 

 phed with it ; artichokes are said to thrive wonder- 

 fully in the Orkney and Shetland Isles, where they 

 are largely manured with sea-weed. When mixed 

 with stable-litter and sand, asparagus succeed ex- 

 cellently in it ; and a lady resident on the Norfolk 

 coast informs me that she has found it quite as good 

 as stall-litter, for forcing sea -kale by Christmas, 

 " the only care necessary is not to let it heat too 



