79 
excellencies, which ought to give it the highest standing in 
this class of vegetables. 
The sea weeds which are seen in such quantities along 
cur coasts, might be turned to great account; and this por¬ 
tion of our territory which has been resigned to ho fie less 
sterility , may thus be rendered productive.* Every rock 
and island near the Atlantic is covered with the Cryptogamia 
Algse, which by calcination is converted into kelp a salt es¬ 
teemed at a much higher rate than the pearl ash in its pur¬ 
est form.f Kelp is employed in the manufacture of glass, 
alum and hard soap. The only use made of the sea weed 
at present is for manure, which is scattered loosely over the 
ground, just in the state in which it is taken from the sea 
shore after a storm. 
Barrilla which is made in the same manner as kelp, and 
employed for the same purposes, is procured from the Cryp¬ 
togamia Filices or ferns, which grow not only along the coast 
but in the upland country. The state of New*Jersey is 
noted for the production of them. 
Kelp and Barrilla are made by burning the plants in kilns, 
so that no air can approach them during their calcination.J: 
It is somewhat singular that these articles have not been 
made the subject of commerce by the enterprising people 
of New-England. 
The Urtica Whitlowi, discovered in the year 1810, by 
Mr. Whitlow, promises to be a better and more lucrative 
production than hemp or flax. Dr. Muhlenberg gave this 
important plant its present name hi compliment to the dis¬ 
coverer. It is found in great abundance on the island be¬ 
low this city—a place perhaps more fertile in plants, than 
any other, of equal dimensions, in the United States. 
The fact is now well established, that the culture of hemp 
offers a greater profit to the farmer, than if he should em¬ 
ploy his time, his labour, and his field in any other manner 
* See National Arithmetic, or Observations on the Finances of 
Massachusetts, chap. 5th. 
f Tucker on Commerce. 
i Chambers on Glass and Soap Making*. 
