[ 33 8 1 
the Size of the Trees or Plants that bear them, 
comes under no Regulations that correfpond with 
our Conceptions. For the vaft Bulk of fome forts of 
Timber-trees (the Beech and A(h, for Inltance) is 
produced from a Seed (mailer than that of the com- 
mon Garden Bean. The towering and mighty Oak 
produces for its Fruit only a little Acorn, whereas 
the Pumpkin (fome whereof weigh above an hundred 
Pounds) is the Produ&ion of a feeble creeping Plant, 
unable to fupport itfelf, and much lefs its enormous 
Fruit. The Vanilla (a Plant that rifes to the Height 
of feveral Feet, by clafping about whatever it finds 
near it) produces, in long Pods, Seeds fo final!, 
that their Diameter is not more than the iooth Part 
of an Inch. Supposing therefore the Cavity of the 
Pod to be equal to a cylindrical Tube of ~ of an 
Inch Diameter, and the Length of the Pod to be fix 
Inches (which Dimenfions are taken with great Mo- 
deration) the Number of Seeds contained in one 
finale Pod will be more than 47000. Mod Kinds 
of Fern, of which fome are pretty large Plants, bear 
Seeds fo extremely minute, that they appear to the 
naked Eye only like a fine Duit ; while Seeds of a 
confidcrable Bignefs are produced by Plants of a 
great deal fmaller Size. But many of the Gentle- 
men here prefent are fo much better acquainted with 
thefe Matters than I can pretend to be, that I fhall 
only prefume to add, with how much Zeal I am 
The Royal Society’s 
'Ltindon, Feb • 7 • 
1749-5°. 
Mojl devoted and obedient 
humble Servant 
H. Baker. 
