( i6 ) 
ftrcngth to provide for itfelf : the young plant 
eonfifts of what are termed the Plume and the 
Radicle; the Plume rifes into the air, and con- 
ilitutes the trunk and branches; the Radicle 
penetrates into the earth, and forms the roots. 
The Cotyledons, which are the mealy fub- 
fiance of the feeds, are converted into a fweet 
juice by the growth of the plant, and are gra- 
dually abforbed by it ; from thefe fweet ftores 
of nutriment, the infant plant draws fufte- 
nance, until, by having put forth roots, it has 
acquired the power of collecting food from 
the earth ; as lambs, and the young of the 
higher order of animals, fuck the milk of 
their maternal parents until they have at- 
tained fufficient llrength to feek abroad for 
their nourilhment. The Plume, the Radicle, 
and the Cotyledons, may be well feen in a 
garden-bean, vicia faba, and fhould be accu- 
rately compared and examined with the fame 
parts in the feed of cucumber, of which a 
drawing is given in Plate the Third. By lay- 
ing an almond kernel in water till it is well 
foaked, and afterwards fplitting it, there may 
be feen within the lobes, or cotyledons, two 
fmall leaves, diftindlly formed, beautifully 
ferratcd round their edges^ and elevated upon 
a little 
