436 PHILOSOPHICAL TBANSACTIONS, [aNNO 1730. 



eclipses, during several years he has been in Barbadoes, he found that they 

 always happened 10 minutes sooner than his computation. Whence he con- 

 cludes, that that island lies 2 deg. and a half more westerly than is generally 

 supposed. 



The /Inatomical Preparation of Fegetables. By Albertns Seba, F. R. S. 

 N° 4 16, p. 441. 



Take leaves of trees or other vegetables, that are somewhat substantial and 

 tough, and have woody fibres ; as for instance, leaves of orange trees, of 

 lemon, jessamine, laurel, rose-trees, of cherry, apricot, peach, plum, apple, 

 and pear trees, of poplar, pine, oak, &c. 



There are many sorts of leaves that have no such woody fibres or veins ; as 

 for instance, vine and lime-tree leaves. 



Those leaves are to be gathered in June or July, when they are most perfect, 

 not touched by worms and caterpillars. They are to be put into an earthen 

 pot, or a wide glass vessel, with a good deal of rain-water, and afterwards left 

 in the open air, uncovered, and exposed to the warmth of the sun. The water 

 must always stand above the leaves, and if it evaporates so as to leave them dry, 

 fresli water must be poured on. Some of the leaves begin to putrefy in a month, 

 others hold out 2 months and longer. When the two external membranes be- 

 gin to separate, and the green substance of the leaf to grow liquid, then it is 

 time to perform the operation. The leaf is to be put into a white and flat 

 earthen plate or dish, filled with clear water ; then being gently squeezed with 

 the finger, the membranes begin to open in the extremities, and the green sub- 

 stance comes out. Take the membranes on both sides dexterously off with the 

 finger, which must be most carefully done in the middle of the leaf near the 

 stalk : if there be once an opening, the rest follows easily. The skeleton that 

 remains between, is afterwards washed in clear water, and kept in a book. 



The method of preparing fruits, as apples, pears, plums, cherries, peaches, 

 and the like, is as follows : 



The finest and largest pears that are soft and not stony, are most proper for 

 this purpose. First, they are to be nicely pared, without squeezing ihem ; and 

 care taken not to hurt the stalk or the crown. This done, put them into a pot 

 of rain or fresh spring-water ; cover it, and let them boil gently till they be- 

 come thoroughly soft ; then take them out, and put them into a vessel of cold 

 water. The pear, &c. to be anatomised, is to be put into a dish filled with cold 

 water ; then hold it by the stalk with one hand, and with one finger and the 

 thumb of the other hand, rub the pulp gently off, beginning near the stalk. 



