Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1903-11-27
SEAWEED GATHERING
Popular Diversion on the Beaches Of
SUNNI Resorts.
Prettily Mounted Specimens Are
Taken Home BY sojOurHsrs -
souvsnArs Of the season 1T
the 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. An ad-
vantage of the work 10 the fact that
the plants may be collected in the sum
mer and not be pressed until 1t is con-
venient Even the kun-dried products
picked up on the seashore and car
ried home will respond to salt bath
and unfold their tangled and meaning
less masses into delicate traceries OF
pretty green, brown and red hues. says
an 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 small mass
of specimens in one Of the basins.
Then with the tweezers, as 1t sepa-
rates into its parts, pick out single
plant and wash it free from all sands
and impurities in the second basin.
When this is done plunge one OF the
cards under the water and bring il di-
rectly beneath the cleansed specimen.
Holding the card at sharp angle, ar
range the base Of the specimen in the
desired position with camers hair
brush, needle or wooden toothpick.
This work must be done under water
When the delicate filaments 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
ficulty. As the arrangement pro-
crosses the card is gradually lifted
from the water until every portion
is complete. If change in the ar
rangement is desirable plunge the ecard
into the water carefully and make
the alterations When the work is fin
ished the mdrib should have natural
shape and from It the filaments should
branch on either side. Drain off all
the water possible and cover the
mounts with white cotton cloth TO pre-
vent the seaweeds from adhering to
ANYTHING else. When all the mounts
are ready press them under heavy
weights for several hours. II the ef-
fort has been painstaking beautiful
souvenirs will result.
Persons who have never collected
seaweeds are sure to find in the oc-
cupatioE relief from the convention
alities with which seashore resorts
abound and a pleasant resource for
leisure hours when fancy work and
summer novels have lost their charms
Then, too, with the work there are
sure to come delightful surprises, for
the inconspicuous water growths de-
velop under proper treatment unsus-
pected charms of form and color. To
know the names Of the plants is OF
benefit, of course, but without be-
tanical term at hand one may still
claim the title Of collector.