( * 7 ) 
Plant would do in the Earth, in the fame fpace of 
Time : I had no opportunity of trying other Succu- 
lent Plants. 
Dr Mortimer told me he had placed Beans upon 
Water, which bloflomed and podded: This put me 
upon trying the Experiment with them, and likewife 
Peafe at the fame Time. I planted fix Beans in a Pot, 
and fixed flicks in it to fupport their Stems as they 
grew; they bloom’d as freely as thofe which are planted 
in the Ground, but did not pod fowell, having not 
above a pod or two on each Plant, which came to 
perfection, and ripened their Seed 5 but this might 
happen for want of a little more Experience ; the 
Peafe which were of the Dwarf fort, drew a little 
too much, and only put out three or four BlofToms 
at the extremity of their Tops, but every Bloflbm 
brought a Peafe-cod, and ripened its Seed. 
This growth of the Beans and Peafe, made me 
imagine that other Seeds would fucceed in the fame 
manner, knowing they would chip upon being laid 
for a little time in Water, or in amoiff Place: The 
only Difficulty was to invent fomething proper for 
their fupport in growing. The firft Thing 1 tried 
was boring very little holes in a piece of Lead, fix’d 
in a Pot, and fowing the Seeds thereon ; I found they 
would fprour, but as the Water evaporated, filling in 
freffi moved the Seeds from their places, that they 
could not fix thetnfelves to turn their Radicle down 
into the Water ; I then tried Towe or Hemp, and 
fpread it on the Lead, which I found anfwer the 
Purpofe of fupportingthe Seed, which by that means 
grew, and the Radicle taking hold of the Towe, it 
was enabled to throw up its Plume or Shoot; I then 
tried. 
