The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-09
OCEANS AUTUMN TINTS.
sEAWEED MORE BEAUTIFUL wow
THAN FOLIAGE.
Every Storm washes Up Algm of vArie-
gated Golors which, when Properly Pro-
pared, Form Things of Beauty for Years
Various Commercial Uhhn of AIrne.

AhNUAs hWAA NNhNN VI Hhko vi NNENN-
gated Goiors which, when Properly Pre-
pared, Form Things of Beauty for Years
Various Commercial Uses of A1ga.
Autumn's foliage Is now clarifying tho hills
and mountains with u symphony Of colors that
attract thousands of sightseers up tho Hudson.
and each visitor returns with exquisite bou-
duets OF tinted leaves to preserve as mementos
1.-THE Rrandest season OF the year; but very
few who revel in tho vnrlegated colors that ma
ture produces ever think OF going TO thcsca-
shore for autumn tints. Yet tho ocean has
autumn-tlnted plants which rival In beauty OF
color anything ever witnessed on tho Palisades.
One never knows what secrets tho ocean con-
tnlns In It's depths until some violent storm
agitatcs Its breast and makes It disgorge its
treasures. Then it's turgid bottom vomits up
whatever II possesses and strews ith contents
upon the shore. All through the summer tho
ocean has boon harborinR innumerablo plants,
andits edges have been frlnged with a vegetation
that seemed coarse and unsightly to the eye.
But now that autumn has come, marsh grass
and seaweed have ripened and taken on all the
tints Of the forest leaves. When the tide goes
out this margin Of colors decpens and intensi-
fee. In place OF tho fringe OF meadow grass a
border of seaweed, nowcrless plants or cryptic
grams extend down to the waters edge and.far
out on tho floor OF the ocean.
We never SEQ the full beauty OF these flower
less plants until the autumn's storms wash
them up on tho beach. The finest and ~prettiest
OF the cryptograins hide themselves In the
deep water, where they grow and blush un-
seen. Some Of them grow upon the rocks and
lodges. others cover the bottoms OF ships q
few grow upon tho surface OF tho sea without
any other visible means OF support, and certain
varieties, furnished with small bladders, float
about until they attach themselves to what
everof vegetable life they com in contact with.
When the storms blow the waves roll upon the
beaches laden with all these different forms OF
sea plants. They, have reached their full
growth now. and they are mora worthy OF col
Letting and pressing than the leaves Of the au-
tumn woods.
/ The beauty Of these seaweeds cannot be APP
preciated until they are hoated in water or
properly pressed upon cards. AS they come In
on the waves they look like great masses Of
notified green. red and yellow. Then, as they
are thrown upon the sand or rocks. the sun
dries them up and ruins their beauty. 1t Is
necessary to gather them quickly to retain
their colors.
These sea plants. sea MOSES or alGe-all Of
which are classified under the general term Of
cryptograms-are very low in the world Of veg
etable life. but they represent miniature trees.
shrubs and flowers so well that, when mounted
on cardboard. they might be mistaken for
specimens OF flora from Liliput. On the Pa
cinc coast they grow and flourish the year
round. but on our colder Atlantic coast
they perish after the first Of December. They
can be gathered on our beaches from early
spring until winter. but in tho fall they are far
more beautiful than at any other season.
In the early spring the bright green MOSES
first make their appearance in the water along
the coast. These align are fine and delicate In
thniH forp,ntt1, nrl kln,, -. A.
tender ferns of the swamps OF the young leaves
OF the trees. AS the season advances the red
and brown algp make their appearance. and
the tender green MOSES either disappear or
take on q richer hue. The red and brown
alg@ are higher. In the scale Of vegetable life.
than the early greens. and they are larger and
more intricate in their formation. Late in sum-
mer and early in fall the bright yellows. ~scarlets
and vivid reds tinge the bottom of the sea with
but go down to the bottom Of the sea with q
waterglass. such as sponge divers use. he would
sss q e 6f t6ese 7 SSReri smon pIan the lMSS ag1 81 tbs
pink align would be mistaken for flowers, for
their colors are fully as deep and attractive as
any bloom OF rose bush orlily stalk.
The algg are grouped, in classes according
to their powers Of reproduction and according
to their colors. The latter classification Is
more interesting to the average collector. for
1t Is something that can, be seen and easily
are the olive brown. the red spored and the
green spored, In each group there are in
Vulnerable color shades that connect one with
darkest tints.. There are small and large plants
also in each class. and delicate and coarse ones.
and often specimens of seaweed from other
parts OF the globe come in with the tides to add
seas south Of us frequently ind their way up
north to he captured by some enthusiastic col
s IeS1eF Of t from Wo FE9ri 6aS eGme tb som psee of b fhs ilness
along the Southern coast tons OF these brilliant
sea plants were washed as far North as Barne-
washed ashore or set adrift in the strong cur
rents E6Sc tE "a SWGeiS SIR1 a.op F6o the neS coast co,vor o,rdor
into two great districts. Most of the alge
found growing north Of Cape Cod have the
SANE Rrntic genera IeniG8s aP gonf5 ne fb as cd tho , fora nS OF the
more of the CHARACTERISTICS Of the seaweeds OF
tropical waters. The brilliant colors OF the
seaWeeds intensity the further south We go.
until they reach the maximum OF their beauty
The giant Klein is the largest OF this class Of
plants. and it exceeds in length any growth
found on the land. On the. Pacific coast it has
L Hto att iInsG such ie2"i a ii Size i that TIT It has lest o Il isf BEEN
mistaken for the sea serpent when, floating
upon the sea. 1t takes an unusually severe
ings, but there is apparently nothing that the
ocean cannot do when It undertakes It. There
i0Oto 300 feet in length, and it is so tough that
fishermen use itlfor their lines and nets.
sc Alone onis0 01e peaches s Hns St on th tli mn Atlantic cnnIm coast T me
is a coarse species of kelp rlddled with holes
SO that it resembles n colander or sieve, The
Devils apron is a large, dark, rcd kelp that is
also easily obtained. 1t is brilliant In colofs
just now. and may be found any time on the
beaches after astorm. Collecting the alED along
the coast is only a small part Of the pleasure OF
the work. To mount them properly requires
patience and a steady hand They are goth
dark mass OF the plants TINT seem to haye no
shape or form on tho beach assumes a very
different aspect when tioated in water. Then ifs
individual leaves and fronds spread out like
q tree or bush. While in this attitude tho
dark. glazed cardboard must bo inserted in the
water. and as it Is brought up slowly under
the plant tho branches must be smoothcd out
in place with a small hair brush, Each sepa-
rate branch must be treated individnaGy:. Then
Is lifted out Of the water to dry. No ,mucilage.
or other sticky substance Is required. THO
seaweeds have q large percentage Of mucilagf
nous substance in them. and as they dry TBS
oozes out and securely f%astens the brancHSe
TO the cardboard. II properly dried. the btM
liant alg,es retain their c9lors for yeafts,
tho dark. but II exposed to the light and aF,
for any length of time the colors return. -
4 . -,na NI,A Tu~Bfn, "a fa,Ey tvnaso n1n 10 mn t-f