INSTEUCTIONS FOK GATHERING SEA-WEEDS. 9 



CHAPTER II. 



When collecting sea-weeds, it is advisable to gather 

 them either from pools left by the receding tide, where 

 many species of them grow, or in places where they 

 have been recently thrown up by the sea ; for, after 

 they have been exposed to the sun and air, and more 

 especially during the summer months, they become 

 decomposed, and lose their natural colour and appear- 

 ance.* In gathering your plants, endeavour, if pos- 

 sible, to preserve the root, as it makes the specimen 

 more perfect, and, in consequence, of more value ; 

 and also contrive to select, in preference to others, 

 plants that are in fruit, for these are more highly esti- 

 mated by scientific algologists than such as are bar- 



* All Algae growing within the limits of the tidal influ- 

 ence, are to be sought at low water, especially the lowest 

 water of spring-tides, for many of the rare and more inte- 

 resting kinds are found only at the verge of low-water mark, 

 either along the margin of rocks partially laid bare, or, 

 more frequently, fringing the deep tide-pools left, at low 

 water, on a flattish shore. The northern, or shaded, side 

 of the pool will be found richest in red Algae ; and the most 

 sunny, in those of an olive or green colour. 



