Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1903-01-01
WEEDGATHERING
Popular Diversion on the Beaches O.
Sumner Resorts. .
Prettily Mounted Specimens Are
TAkea Home By sojourAeFs ~
So0veAArs OF the Seaaon It y;
tn. se...s.

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 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 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 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 it 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 tho
cards under the water and bring it d.
rectly beneath the cleansed specimen.
Holding the card at q sharp angle, ar
range the base of the specimen in the
desired position with a cancels hair
brush, needle or wooden toothpick.
This work must be done under water.
When the delicate filaments are
spread out to the best advantagew with
draw the card little way from the
water and observe the result. The
seaweed will adhere without any Diff
fculty. Az tho arrangement pro-
crosses the card is gradually lifted
from the water until every portion
is complete. If q change in the ar
rangement IS desirable plunge thecard
the alterations. When the work is fin
ished the midrib should have 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 to
anything else. When all the mounts
are ready press them under heavy
weights for several hours. II the eff
fort has been painstaEng beautiful
souvenirs will result.
Persons who have never collected
Geaweeds are sure to find in the oc-
cupation relief from the convention
alities with which seashore resorts
abound and q 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 q boz
tanical term at hand one may sti1l
claim the title Of collector.
Commercial Value Of Almonds.
At Tunis the average commercial
value OF green almonds in good.sized
lots is Is francs ($2.90) per 100 XII.
ograms (22O.46 pounds); the value Of
dry almonds is about four times az
great. and the decorticated fruit brings
200 francs ($39.6o) per 100 Kilograms.
The stock on hand from the preceding
harvest IL Insignificant approximate.
" 1000 kilograms (4,40s.2 pounds).