tif fever al Species of Pollen. tSg 



faturated with moifture, (or has loft, by keeping, a part of its irri- 

 tability ?) but it does not enter the dry grains fo readily as water 

 alone. 



I have fince fubje£led pollen to examination in feveral of the 

 moft ftimulant oily and faline liquids, but have not been able to 

 perceive that any of them had a fimilar efFeft on it. 



It is proper here to remark that the utmoft care is requifite to 

 prevent accidental mixtures of the fubjefls or menftrua in thefe ex- 

 periments, which might greatly embarrafs and miflead the obferver. 

 Separate pieces of clear glafs for the feveral kinds, and feparate pointed 

 glafs tubes to convey the liquids, will therefore be requifite. It will 

 be proper attentively to examine the pollen dry, as well as the 

 liquids, before they are ufed, in order to be fatisfied of the abfence 

 of animalcules and other extraneous matters which might be fuf- 

 pedled to influence the appearances. 



I do not pretend to fay that the above-related experiments were 

 abfolutely free from optical deception ; but I may venture to affirm, 

 from frequent repetition of them, that, when tried with due pre- 

 caution, they will fcarcely ever be found to fail of producing the 

 appearances related. 



Engagements of fuperior importance at prefent prevent, and may 

 long continue to prevent, my puftiing thefe inquiries much further. 

 It is for this reafon, and becaufe I fhould take a pleafure in feeing it 

 done by fome perfon more capable of executing them with due ex- 

 aftnefs, and drawing proper inferences from them, that I am willing 

 to make them known in their prefent imperfeiSl ftate. For the 

 afilfliance of thofe who may incline to profecute the fubjedl, I fhall 

 now ftate the amount of the prefent difcovery, and the hints for 

 further inveftigation which have occurred to me. 



Should it be found, on repeating and extending thefe obferva- 



tions, 



