62 PHILOSOi'HlCAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1703. 



other sorts of seeds. It is true we often find in hazel-nuts, almonds, peach and 

 apricot kernels, a double seed or kernel ; but then each of them is inclosed in 

 a separate membrane, that have no communication with each other, but in a 

 bare simple contact; each having a distinct stalk or string, by which con- 

 sequently they receive their proper nourishment. 



In Noven-.ber I received a present of some Surinam oranges ; and in the first I 

 opened were 38 complete kernels; but in neither of two others could I meet 

 with 4 good seeds. I opened several kernels of the first orange; one of which, 

 surrounded with its membrane, is represented abcd, fig. 18, pi. 2. After 

 stripping one of these kernels of the outer membrane, I discovered that there 

 lay a string under it, that caused a little protuberance in the first skin, repre- 

 sented in the said figure by abc; from which string, not only the seed, but the 

 plant within it receives its increase and nourishment, ef, fig, IQ, shows the 

 same seed separated from its first and hard skin, which is only designed, I con- 

 ceive, for the defence of the inward parts; whereas nuts, almonds, peach-stones, 

 &c. are armed with strong and thick shells; pg represents the aforesaid 

 string, parted a little from the seed itself, to render it the more visible; and it 

 is not only joined to the seed at p, but extends its small vessels also through the 

 second membrane from p towards e, the seat of the plant, in order to its 

 nourishment; but those vessels are so exceedingly fine and small, that they 

 escape the sight before you can trace them to their origin. Now we may 

 certainly conclude, that the said string does actually comprehend in itself as 

 many distinct vessels as are to be found in the orange-tree when arrived to full 

 maturity; for if all these vessels were not in the young plant, while it lies in- 

 volved in its mother, the kernel's matrix, whence can they afterwards proceed? 

 Though the said string was very small, yet I was resolved to try if I could have 

 a sight of the vessels within it, and I succeeded several times, but not with- 

 out a great deal of trouble before I could place it in such a position as my, 

 limner might be able to draw it exactly. Fig. 20. hiklmn represent a part of 

 the same string cut across, which fg, fig. ly, show entire, and in its whole 

 length. The said particle of the string at himn has abundance of exceedingly 

 small vessels, but very difficult to be seen; about iklm they grow larger, and 

 consequently are more visible; and thus you may see a great many, though not 

 all the vessels. After this observation, I queried whether these great vessels 

 were not the origin of contexture of that membrane which covers the seed; 

 and on the other side, whether the former, represented by h i m n, be not the 

 feeders of the seed and plant. 



OPQ, fig. 21, represent a piece of another string cut across; rstv that pai^* 

 of the hard membrane that surrounds it; Tvaw faintly shows that vast number 



