88 MODE OF BEVIVING 



If the grains of wheat are grown dry by 

 keeping, and you cut them open in that condi- 

 tion, the fibrous matter is very distinguishable, 

 and, on putting water to it, will separate with 

 great readiness, and seem like fine tubes or 

 threads tapering at both ends ; but not the 

 least motion or symptom of life will be per- 

 ceived till they have been in water for some 

 hours ; nay, frequently they will never revive 

 or come to move at all. But if the same 

 grains be steeped in water for some hours, or 

 buried for three or four days in earth, till they 

 are fully saturated with moisture, and then 

 opened with a penknife, on taking out a small 

 portion of the white matter carefully, and 

 spreading it thin upon a slip of glass, the ani- 

 mals may be seen bundled together, and ex- 

 tended longitudinally, but without motion ; 

 and though, upon the application of water, they 

 will not revive so soon as those taken from 

 fresh grains, whose moisture has never been 

 exhaled, yet, after abiding an hour or two in 

 water, we have constantly found them alive and 

 vigorous ; and that notwithstanding the grains 

 have been kept in a dry condition even for 

 some years, of which I have a remarkable 

 instance now before me. 



