SKEDS OF PLANTS. 
S9 
plain, and the effect of the mounting of the seed, most evident. 
The w’o<k 1 retires to leave room for the alburnum vessels, 
whenever any new branch produces flowers ■, and will, therefore, 
require space for the seeds to crowd round the buds, while the 
bark also recedes outwardly and forms those undulations just 
mentioned. A blow or cut to the tree at this lime, is most 
hurtful, and will turn all the seeds black at the side which 
receives it ; when arrived at the situation where the flowers are 
collected, the most wonderful part of the process begins. The 
large assemblage of the seeds at each side of the stem (if 
divided where the general flower stalk first shoots) is rc.illy as 
wonderful a scene as nature presents. The seeds pour into the 
pericaip wheiv this stalk is not an inch in length, while the 
pollen is at the same lime preparing also to enter its cases. 
That they should neither of them intermix or confuse each wjtiierpoHen 
other, though occupying so small a space, that the eye can por weds 
hardly discern it without magnifiers, and yet that they should 
remain as completely separate as if divided with strong parti- 
tions, is really astonishing ; especially as the alburnum vessels 
swell so considerably as to push back both bark and wood, and 
fill up every space but the middle, which is occupied by the 
pollen : on comparing the seeds in the root, with those enter- 
ing the seed-vessels in the same plant, that is, taking a single 
seed from each part, nl one time ; I found they differed not the 
lea.st in size or shape, though extretnely magnified j and that 
they grow not, therefore, as they lise up the tree. My general p,opcrto 
mode of proceeding with such diminutive specimens, is to 
, specimen 
immerse them in a bubble of glass ; but the seeds being too mtiiin a bub- 
tender and delicate to bear even so momentary a heat, 1 now hie or drop. 
substituted water in its stead. It is certain that they magnify 
much mare within the drop, than if placed at the focus. I It i* «o, fire 
should suppose that the front of the circle, serves as a concave 
mirror to the object to be viewed ; but it will not act well, if 
the specimen is too opake, but being merely the corculum of 
the seeds, nothing can be mote clear and transparent, and any 
person that has beheld them in a very young bud, would 
recognise the objects again j but there are s« many deceptions 
in 
