Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1903-07-03
SEAWEEDGATHERING
Popular Diversion on the Beaches Of
Sumr~- ResortA
Prettily Mounted sp~cimeas Are
Takea Home by sojourHers ~
SouvsnAr Of the Season 1t
the Seaside.


Seaweeds can be gathered at all see.
sons of the year, but are at their best
in the summer and early autumn.
Some of them float free of anc chorage
in the ocean and others are attached
to rocks and other stationary objects
by parts which are known as hold
fa&ts" and look like roots, but fur
nish no nutrimen Mt 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 II Ia con-
venient. Even the xun-dred 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 huex, says
an eastern exchange.
In order to make the specimens OF
value, either ns 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, nS II sepa-
rates into its parts. pick out single
plant and wash it free from all sands
and impurities In the rscond 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 a sharp angle ar
range the base Of the specimen in the
desired position with camel's 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 little way from the
water and observe the result. The
seaweed will adhere without any dif-
iculty. As the arrangement pro-
yresses the card Is gradually lifted
rom the water until every portion
IS complete. II change in the ar
angement is desirable plunge thecard
nto the water carefully and make
he alterations. When the work 10 fin-
shed the midYib should have q natural
shape and from It the filaments should
,ranch on either side. Drain off all
he water possible and cover the
mounts with white cotton cloth q pre-
'ent the seawceds from adhering TO
lnvihing else. When all the mounts
IRE ready press them under heavy
Weights for several hours. II the ef-
ort has been painstaking beautiful
ouvenirs will result.
Persons who have never collected
eaweeds are sure to find in the oc-
upation relief from the convention 4
lities with which aeashore resorts
bound and a pleasant resource for
eisure hours when fancy work and
ummer novels have lost their charms.
hen, too, with the work there are
ure to come delightful surprises, for
he inconspcunus water growths de-
elop under prorer treatment unsus-
ected charms Of form and color. To
now the names ~ the plants is of
eneft of course but without n bo-
anical term nj hrrd one may still
lain the title OF collector.