992 a new discovery in vegetation. 147 
and the chaff, which it is unnecefsary to separate. The 
seeds, however, being smaller and weightier, and, more 
oily than the chaff, adhere more firmly to the paper thar 
the chaff. 
Let these seeds, when properly dried, be sown upon 
the surface of some loose moist mold, that has been care- 
fully smoothed. They must not be covered with any 
4 mold, but kept moist, and in a situation where there is no 
want of light, but where they are entirely thaded from 
the direct rays of the sun; for a very fhort glance of sun- 
fhine upon the young plants, infallibly kills them. The 
young plants very soon appear ia the form of a fine green 
mofs. The seed leaf is roundifh and undivided. In 
‘a fhort time the second leaf fhoots forth, which is palma+ 
ted, and clearly is a fern. These may be allowed to 
remain in the seed bed for some time, till they have ac- 
quired strength, when they may be transplanted te where 
they are to remain ; and if gently thaded, and kept moist, 
readily take root and grow freely. 
Mr has tried about a dozen of kinds of fern, 
‘and finds they all thus succeed perfectly well. How long 
the seeds, after gathering, will retain their vegetative 
“power, he cannot tell; but is certain they may be safely 
kept for at least three months without losing their vege- 
tating faculty. 
This may appear st present a matter of mere curiosity. 
But no person can say whether it may not in time prove 
of considerable utility to man. The rocts of many kinds 
of ferm are very large and succulent, and afford an excel. | 
lent food for hogs, which are greedy of them, and. search 
for them with avidity ; and in several, parts of the world, 
' particularly at New South Wales, the wretched inhabi- 
‘tants dig up these roots, and feed upon it themselves.. 
There is also reason to believe, that ¢me varieties. of 
