SEAWEED AS MANURE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 150, 22 December 1938, Page 29 (Supplement)

SEAWEED AS MANURE

For gardens on the sea coast where the soil is essentially sandy, or where it may be obtained readily without too great cost for cartage, seaweed is a very valuable manure.

Besides supplying the necessary humus to the soil, it contains potash, nitrogen, and, to a small extent, phosphates. Fine seaweed is preferable to heavy kelp, as the latter is difficult to rot. If the seaweed is spread over the ground to* a good depth and dug in the results will fully compensate for the cost and labour.

It is a useful manure for almost all crops, being specially appreciated by asparagus and the cabbage family, among the vegetables, and by carnations and delphiniums among the flowers.

Seaweed may be used with advantage in any soil, but for sandy soil it is especially useful, as the salt it contains attracts moisture from the air and helps to maintain moisture in the light soil.

Another great advantage of seaweed as a manure is that, Unlike animal manure, it is quite free from weed seeds. As this material gives off a very objectionable smell when rotting it should not be stacked: dig it in as soon as possible. It is very useful when used in conjunction with garden refuse.