204 The SEVEN VEGETABLE FAxMILIES. 
together with the entire Shell of the Head, is a true and regular Re- 
ceptacle. 
The Charadfcrs of Farina are thefe : that it is a Powder, whofe Par- 
ticles hurd with water, and difcharge what have been called eladick Atoms. 
Linn.t:us adopted from M. Needham, the idea of thefe eladick Atoms; 
but he afterwards calls the contents of the Globule of Farina, an impalpable 
Matter ; which is more exadl. 
The Globules from thefe Rays of the Corona are very fmall ; they burd 
in water, and there is dlfcharged from them what has been called eladick 
Atonas, or impalpable Matter. It is, indeed, a minute Particle of the ef- 
fential Subdancc of the Plant, covered with a waxy Subdance, which be- 
ing incapable of folution in the watery Juices of the Plant, keeps in dif- 
tindl Globules. 
Therefore the Particles lodged in the Rays of the Corona in this 
Moss are Globules of Farina. 
The Characters of a Seed are thefe. It is a part of the Vegetable, con- 
taining the Rudiment of a new one, and ready to fall from the old Plant and 
grow; after it has been impregnated by the Farina.' When a Seed is fo 
minute as this of Moss, its didindtion from a Farina mud be fought part- 
ly in its negative qualities. Now, this Seed is a part feparable by Nature 
from the old Plant, and capable of growth into a new one : It does not 
burd in water as Farina, nor when purpofely broken has it any of that 
waxy matter found in all Farinae. There is, indeed, a Plantule in it, de- 
livered from the Farina, jud as there is in all Seeds. 
These reafons fliew, the Powder lodged in the Head of Moss to be 
Seeds : If there be more proof wanted, take it from experience. The 
Plant here figured I raifed from Seed gathered upon a wall at Wedburn- 
Green, and fown upon that low wall of the Hyde Park Refervoir. This 
Seed was ripe in March. I fowed it in the fird Week of April, and the 
Plants flowered this February. Nothing is eafier than the Procefs of this 
minute article of Gardening. Scrape the furface of the Bricks, and of the 
Mortar between them, with a blunt Knife ; take a large Tuft of the Moss 
in Seed-time, and draw its Heads over this rough furface; the Seeds will 
fall out, and tho’ millions are lod, enough will be fixed to grovy. 
The fird appearance of the young Plants was in the Beginning of 
May : they were green Specks, like Dud ; but a Microfcope fhewed they 
had Leaves. They remained thus till Autumn; but then they grew fad. 
The didindl Leaves appeared to the naked eye in October : four were 
fpread out in a darry manner, and two rofe in the center. In the next 
month 
