384 
Agriculture of the Scilhj Isles. 
each farmer supplies liimself. After a heavy jjale many work 
night and day till the storm-washed produce is all collected. 
In applying the seaweed, they often carefully separate the 
species. Experience has taught them that particular species are 
suitable for particular crops. Thus, to use local terms, they 
find that Thongs [Himantlialia lorea), Sedge {Enteromorpha), 
and Blade Ore (^Laniinaria) are specially adapted for potatoes j 
whilst Crabby Ore (Fucus serratus) is best for wheat. 
Seaweed is frequently mixed with farmyard manure. It 
greatly assists decomposition, the plants taken from deep water 
rotting faster than those found above low-water mark. Sea- 
weed is considered as good as farm-yard manure for the first year 
after its application, but it has no lasting properties. Some of 
the islanders say that it encourages the growth of stem and leaf 
in potatoes rather than of tubers. 
Little artificial manure is used at present. Guano is imported 
in moderate quantity. We heard of no other kind. 
Weeds and Wild Plants. 
Besides such ordinary field weeds as thistles , docks, yawl 
(the local name for couch), groundsel, bind-weed, and cheno- 
podium, we found that the common erodium {Erodium cicu- 
tarium), bothum or corn marigold {Chrysanthemnm segetum), 
and millefoil {Achillea millefolium) gave much trouble. 
Among other wild plants, we noticed the sea samphire 
(Crithmiim vtaritimum), navelwort {Cotyledon umbilicus), sea 
lavatera {Lavatera arborea), musk erodium {Erodium mos- 
chatum), black solanum {Solarium nigrum), Portland spurge 
{Euphorbia segetalis), and the small-flowered sage {Salvia clan- 
destina. 
Fern is largely collected, and stacked near the cottages and 
farm-buildings for lighting fires and for use as litter. 
Trees are few in number and much stunted. The tamarisk is 
generally distributed. 
Live Stock, 
On St. Martin's the numbers of the principal live stock are ; — 
horses, 15 or 16 ; cattle, 24 ; sheep 90 to 100. 
Horses. — The farm horses are of indiscriminate breed, small, 
hardy, and active. Few are bred on the islands. The majority 
come from Penzance, and are worth from 15/. to 20/. each. As 
a rule, each farmer keeps one horse. 
In summer, the horses are turned out on the downs. In winter, 
they are fed with barley or oats, " in the sheaf," mangolds, and a 
