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XL Some Obfervations relating to vegetable 
Seeds \ by James Parfons, M* D . F. R. S. 
Read Nov. az. /k MONG the many Subjeds in the 
^ Store-houfe of Nature, nothing, 
perhaps, is more entertaining, nor merits more 
the Attention of the Learned and Curious, than the 
Family of vegetable Seeds ; and it is indeed furprifing, 
that, till now, they have not been made an exprefs 
Subjed for the Confideration of feme curious Natu- 
ralid, fince Plants and Flowers have been treated of 
by fo great a Number of Authors from the earlied 
Times. 
It has been faid lately, that the major Part of all 
the Seeds in the World are no more than minute 
Molecules', and fo much alike, that little can be 
expeded from them ; whereas Plants and Flowers, 
being viflble and beautiful, might be thought more 
worthy of Defcription and Delineation : But I fhould 
imagine, that thofe Parts of Nature which are lead 
vi'dble, and mod obfeure, require mod to be infpeded 
and explain’d, in order to render the Knowledge of 
them more general. 
1 Vliny wifely fays, “ Rerum natura nufquam magis 
'<■ qimm in minimis tot a fit 5” and, indeed, nothing is 
more true than that Addition j for every Day’s Expe- 
rience confirms it : And altho’an Elephant , or Camel , 
has Organs, which, from heir noble Structure and Ufcs, 
are very wonderful, yet there is much greater Room 
for Admiration among us, that a Mite fhould be fur- 
sifh'd with a greater Number of Limbs than fo con* 
3 dderable 
