C 3 
VI. . TLxtra&s of Two Letters from the late 
Roger Gale, Ef quire , F. R. S. to Mr . Pe- 
ter Collinfon, F. R. S. concerning the Ve- 
getation of Melon Seeds 3 3 Tears old \ and 
of a foffil Skeleton of a Man . 
Scrutcn in Yorkjhire , Jan. 14. 1743 -4* 
SIR , 
Read Jan. 24. *** A BOUT this time Twelve-' 
I7 +T 5 - Fjl month, I found, accidentally, 
n Paper of Melon feeds that 1 had laid by, with the Date 
of the Year 171c upon it. I fowed fome of them, 
not with any great Hopes of their coming up ; but, 
to my great Surprize, 1 had a line Number of Plant's 
from them, which all profper’d very well, till they had 
put out four Leaves, when they were all loll by an 
Accident. This I have mention'd to you, becaufe,in 
FhiloJ optical Tranfdfdions , N°. 464. Mr. Triewald 
has given an Account of fome old Melon-feeds that 
produced Fruit, fho’ they exceeded mine 10 Years in 
Age : However mine may be a Confirmation of their 
long Retention of their vegetative Quality 5 which i 
fuppofc may be aferibed to the Oilynefs of the Seed, 
and the Hardnefs of its outward Coat. 
We have few or no Foffils in this Country ; but a 
Friend in Staffordftire [Mr. c P}dtf 1 s informs me, that 
That Country abounds much in Foffils ; fuch as Sea- 
Shells, Rock- Plants, and other marine Bodies left at 
the Deluge. Near Bakewell in TDerbyJhire was lately 
found the Skeleton of a Man, with fome Stags Horns, 
-in digging a Lead -Mine. 
Lis [ In 
