YOL. XLl.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 431 



embryo of a seed. But, say they, in animals, either the finest part of the 

 semen is taken in by the vessels of the vagina and uterus, circulated with the 

 fluids, and carried into the ovaria, and even into the ova, by the vessels that 

 run thither ; or else fecundation is occasioned by a subtile spirit in the semen 

 masculinum, which passes the uterus, enters the ovaria, pervades the female 

 ova, actuates and enlivens the seminal matter contained in them, and produces 

 all the various symptoms of conception. In plants, too, .say they, the same is 

 effected by penetrating effluvia from the male semen or farina. 



This account of animal and vegetable generation is intended to intro- 

 duce a discovery, which may possibly some way lead to a greater certainty 

 about it. 



Among numberless inquirers, whom the opinion, that every seed includes a 

 real plant, has set at work to open all kinds of seeds, and try by glasses to find 

 evident proofs of, Mr. B. was not the least industrious. But after repeated 

 experiments, in every manner he could think of, and with the utmost nicety, 

 he began to despair of ever attaining an ocular demonstration of it. If by 

 moistening the seed it began to vegetate, he could indeed discern the seminal 

 leaves, and the germen or bud, whence the future plant should arise ; but he 

 was not able to go further, unless he waited till the moisture, gradually extend- 

 ing its vessels, made the little root shoot down, the stalk rise up, and the mi- 

 nute leaves expand, and bring themselves to view. This, however, was not 

 the thing he sought for ; but at length mere accident favoured him with a dis- 

 covery he had so often searched after to no purpose. 



Endeavouring with a fine lancet to dissect a seed of the gramen tremulum, 

 with intention to examine the several parts of it with a microscope, imagining 

 he might find somewhat curious in the contexture of its husk, the edges of 

 which were transparent, he opened it the long way exactly in the middle, and 

 took notice of something exceedingly small between the two sides,' which he 

 had separated. He stuck the point of the lancet into it, with no other design 

 than to take it up, and place it in the microscope to see what it might be ; 

 which he had no sooner done, than he found the lancet had fortunately opened 

 a membranous case, that included a perfect plant, arising from a double root in 

 the basis of its case, with two stems of an equal height, each having many leaves 

 on it, like the grass from whence it was produced. He afterwards cut open 

 a great many seeds of the same kind, in hopes to be able to separate one of 

 these minute plants entirely from its theca ; which at last he successfully 

 effected. 



