( 700 ) 
Ilk A Letter from Mr. Anth. Van Leeuwenhoek 
concerning the Seeds of Plants, with Obfei na- 
tions on the manner of the Propagation of 
Plants and Animals. 
IN the Seed of an Ajb reprefented of the natural Si2e 
by Fig. i. I obferved not only two large Leaves, but 
that part alfo whence the Root takes its Rile, was extra- 
ordinary big; this part of the Seed I always found up- 
permoft when growing on the Tree, fo that ihe Seeds 
have a contrary Situation on the Tree to what they have 
in the Earth. Thefe two Leaves of the Seed or Lobes 
were filled up with an innumerable quantity of very 
fmall Globules, except where the Fibres were vifible : 
Which likewife were compofed of much (mailer Globules, 
and took their Origine from that part whence the Root 
proceeds. This fuppofed Root I cut through the mid- 
dle, and have reprefented it Fig. 2. wherein the outward 
Ring reprefents the Bark, the next reprefents the woody 
part full of dark- coloured Pricks, which are the Fibres 
thereof. Theinnermoft Oval reprefents the Pith, com- 
pofed of round Bodies. I have likewife found that the 
bignefs of the Seeds of Plants does no way anfwer to 
the Size of the Leaves of the Plant, there being very 
fmall Rudiments of the Leaves and Plant in the large 
Seeds of the Oak and Peach reprefented by Fig. 3. and 
on the contrary, very confiderable ones in the Seeds of 
the Afh. 
As I have formerly obferved in the fieftjy Fibres of 
the Mttfcks, that there were no Blood- Vefiels intermixt 
with them, but they were placed only in the Membranes 
that encompafTed the Mufcles , and fhew'd how the 
flefhy 
