Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1902-12-12
EAWEEDGATHERIN
Popular Diversion on the Beaches Of
Summc- Resorts.
Prettily Mounted Specimens AZ.
Taken Home by sojourners Is
Souvenirs Of the Season 1t
ths Seaside.

Seaweeds can be gathered at all sea.
sons of the year, but are at their best
in the summer and early autumn
Some Of them float free of anchorage
in the. ocean and others are attached
to rocks and other stationary objects
by parts which are known as "hold.
fasts" and look like roots, but fur.
nish no nutriment to the plant. Anad.
vantage of the work is the fact that
the plants may be collected in the sum
mer and not be pressed until it is con
venient. Even the sun-dried products
picked up on the seashore and car
ried home will respond to a salt bath
and unfold their tangled and meaning
less masses into delicate %traceries OF
pretty green, brown and red hues, says
ar eastern exchange.
In order to make the specimens OF
value, either as displays of natures
handiwork or as motifs for china and
other decoration, they must be mount
ed. Stiff cards are excellent for the
purpose. They can be white or tinted,
as taste dictates. With the cards and
seaweeds and a couple of deep basins
of salt water one is ready to begin
work. "A pair of tweezers with which
to pick up the delicate structures will
be found useful. Float a small mass
of specimens in one of the basins.
Then with the tweezers, as it sepa.
rates into it's parts, pick out a single
plant and wash it free from all sands
and impurities in the second basin,
When this is done plunge n of the
cards under the water and bring it di.
rectly beneath the cleansed specimen,
Holding the card at a sharp angle, ar
range the base Of the specimen in the
desired position with a camel's hair
brush, needle or wooden toothpick.
This work must be done under water
When the delicate flaments are
spread out to the best advantage with.
draw the card a little way from the
water and observe the result. The
seaweed will adhere without any diff
fculty. As the arrangement pro-
crosses the card is gradually lifted
from the water until every portion
is complete. If a change in the ar.
rangement is desirable plunge thecard
into the water carefully and make
the alterations. When the work is fin
ished the midrib should have a natural
shape and from it the flaments should
branch on either side. Drain of all
the water possible and cover the
mounts with white cotton cloth to pre-
|, vent the seaweeds from adhering tt
anything else. When all the mounts
are ready press them under heavy
weights for several hours. If the eff
fort has been painstaking beautiful
souvenirs will result.
Persons who have never collected
seaweeds are sure to find in the &c
cupation relief from the convention.
alities with which seashore resorts
abound and q pleasant fol
leisure hours when fancy work and
summer novels have lost their charms
Then, too, with the work there are
sure to come delightful surprises. fol
the inconspicuous water growths de.
velop under proper treatment unsus'
pected charms of form and color. Tc
know the names of the plants is Of
benefit, of course, but without q DO.
tanical term at hand n may still
claim the title of collector.