460 Composition of Seaweed and Use as Manure, [sept., 



digitata. Near some estuaries Uha lactuca is gathered. On 

 the north Devon coast it is used for potatoes and roots ; so \ 

 much is it esteemed as a spring dressing that a certain amount 

 is barged to points inland for the use of farmers too far from 

 the sea for cartage to be profitable. In Jersey not only is 

 the "drift weed" cast up by the tides collected, but weed is 

 cut from the rocks. The dates for cutting the vraic are 

 fixed early in the year by the Court, and duly announced; 

 the winter harvest is in March, and the summer harvest in 

 July. As much as 45 tons of the fresh seaweed is applied 

 per acre soon after the crop following early potatoes is out 

 of the way, commonly about the middle of September. Later 

 in the season recourse may be had to seaweed that has been 

 collected, dried, and stacked, this being a regular summer 

 occupation for some of the poorer people of the island. Little' 

 if any deterioration seems to set in, if the weed is quickly 

 dried and not exposed to rain, while the saving in cartage 

 is considerable. Digging-in takes place in December and 

 January, and planting with early potatoes follows as soon 

 as practicable. From two to four cwt. per acre of a complete 

 artificial manure are usually given as well. 



The light soils of the Isles of Scilly are very dependent 

 on a supply of organic matter to retain moisture; as much 

 as 50 tons of seaweed per acre is, therefore, applied for early 

 potatoes, nearly as much for mangolds and other roots, but 

 smaller dressings are put on for corn. A certain amount is 

 also allowed to rot in piles, and is then used for bulb cultiva- 

 tion and general garden purposes. Fucns serratus is most j 

 popular, and enjoys the highest reputation, whilst the thick 

 fleshy strands of Laminaria are least thought of ; indeed, it is i 

 considered that they injure the soil if used too freely. The 

 weed is generally gathered between September and March, j 

 and is by far the most important fertiliser in the Islands. 



In the Isle of Thanet it is used in several wavs. The fresh 

 weed is spread at the rate of ten to fifteen tons per acre over 

 lucerne or sainfoin in the early autumn, and then raked off 

 in spring just before the crop starts. It is also put on the 

 land at the rate of ten to fifteen tons per acre before 

 ploughing, and is found to be very beneficial to such market- 

 garden crops as cabbage, celery, asparagus, &c, as well as 



