I would have thought that Jersey was small enough to transport the seaweed
and to retain the humus. Also it is very unlikely that they had the peat or
straw to replace that burnt. Scotland is a vast country.
Many thanks for all of your contributions. They are always pertinent and
don't 'wander' as some of us others.
Did you ever discover the name of the Ribes?
I recently saw the most beautiful, totally double, shell pink Vinca.
Compact and covered in bloom. So different that I had to swallow and ask
what it was!! But then I had not got very close so I forgave myself. I'm
very good at that!!
We used to be able to buy seaweed locally [subsidised] at ten tons per
acre and the potatoes were very different. Beetroot even more so but that
can be imitated by a sprinkle of salt around the seedlings.
Thanks and Best Wishes. Brian. 'flayb' to respond.
"Sacha" wrote in message
. uk...
Brian2/5/04 5:11

Iodine can be extracted from seaweeds. I understood that the burning of
seaweed was to reduce the volume for transport. None of the minerals
should
have been destroyed. The bulk that was incinerated could be easily
replaced
from peat or straw. This would have been an early attempt at fertilisers
as
opposed to bulk manures.
By burning, the bulk is reduced to 1lb from 1 ton!!~~with loss of only
the carbohydrates.
snip

Very interesting, Brian and thank you. But it makes you wonder why Jersey
farmers didn't burn seaweed in situ 'time past' instead of carting it by
the
ton, literally. Perhaps our tidal flow is too extreme to permit firepits
on
the beaches!

--

Sacha
(remove the weeds to email me)