534 
IODINE  EROM  THE  ASHES  OF  SEA- WEEDS. 
Of  course  it  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  anything  like  picking 
the  kinds  of  kelp  to  be  burned  is  practicable ;  the  only  object  of 
these  remarks  is  to  indicate  the  general  quality  of  the  weed,  so 
that  beaches  where  these  are  not  abundantly  thrown  up  may  be 
avoided,  and  districts  where  they  are  plentiful  searched  for  and 
preferred.  The  quantity  of  weed  required  to  make  one  ton  of 
kelp  may  be  safely  set  down  at  from  twenty-five  to  thirty  tons 
in  its  wet  state,  so  that  all  kinds  -which  may  be  cast  ashore  are 
of  course  indiscriminately  mixed  up  in  collecting ;  the  quality  of 
the  article  being  determined  by  the  general  abundance  of  the 
said  long  tailed  weeds. 
Upon  the  weed  being  cast  ashore  by  the  surf,  it  is  to  be  carted 
on  to  tlie  most  convenient  spread  field,  which  may  be  either  the 
stony  beach  or  rocks,  or  green  sward.  There  it  is  to  be  spread 
out  by  means  of  pitch-forks  in  a  moderately  thin  layer,  and  if 
the  weather  is  warm  and  drying,  it  may  be  turned  once  or  twice 
somewhat  as  hay  is  prepared,  during  drying,  which  will  take  four 
to  five  days,  according  to  the  weather ;  it  shrinks  considerably. 
When  dry  enough  for  burning,  it  is  crisp  and  easily  crushed  in  the 
hand.  It  is  now  to  be  collected  into  one  or  two  large  heaps  in 
a  convenient  place  for  burning,  which  is  done  in  a  rudely  made 
kiln,  formed  by  the  stones  on  the  beach  ;  the  kiln  should  bo  about 
eight  feet  long  by  two  and  a  half  feet  wide,  and  two  feet  deep. 
A  flat  rock  is  generally  chosen  for  the  bottom,  or  a  shallow  hole, 
dry,  lined  with  stones  on  the  bottom,  and  the  sides  made  with 
loose  stones,  built  like  a  dry  well,  and  turf  laid  outside  with  air 
holes  to  regulate  the  draft.  A  fire  of  wood  is  now  kindled  in 
the  kiln  and  the  dried  weed  gradually  put  on  until  the  fire  is 
fairly  set  agoing  ;  the  weed  is  now  assiduously  added  all  over  the 
kiln,  wherever  the  flame  burns  out,  and  this  is  continued  until 
the  whole  weed  is  burned,  or  as  long  as  the  workman  thinks 
necessary  to  continue.  When  about  to  stop,  the  fire  is  allowed  to 
slack  down,  and  the  red  mass  of  ashes  are  to  be  diligently  stirred 
by  two  men,  one  at  each  end  of  the  kiln,  with  an  iron  rake,  until 
the  mass  becomes  pasty,  when  the  process  is  finished.  If  there 
is  room,  more  weed  maybe  burned  in  the  same  kiln  by  kindling 
a  fire  on  top  of  the  kelp  and  proceeding  as  before.  The  kelp, 
when  cold,  is  to  be  taken  up  and  housed  for  market. 
