252 Eels in blighted Wheat* 
If the Grains of Wheat are grown dry by 
keeping, and you cut them open in that 
Condition, the fibrous Matter is very diftin- 
guifhable, and on putting Water to it will 
feparate with great Readinefs, and feem like 
line Tubes or Threads tapering at both 
Ends: but not the leaf! Motion or Symptom 
of Life will be perceived till they have been 
in Water for feveral Hours ; nay, frequently 
they will never revive or come to move at 
all. But if the fame Grains be fleeped in 
Water for feme Hours, or buried for three 
or four Days in Earth, till they are fully 
faturated with Moifture, and then opened 
with a Penknife, on taking out a fmall Por¬ 
tion of the White Matter carefully, and 
fpreading it thin upon a Slip of Glafs, the 
Animalcules may be feen bundled together, 
and extended longitudinally, but without 
Motion j and though upon the Application of 
Water, they will not revive fe foon as thofe 
taken from frefh Grains, whofe Moifture 
has never been exhaled; yet, after abiding 
an Hour or two in Water, I have conftantly 
found them alive and vigorous ; and that, 
not With ftandin g the Grains have been kept 
in a dry Condition even for feme Years; of 
which I have a remarkable Inftance now be¬ 
fore me. 
In the Month of Augujl 1743, a fmall 
Parcel A blighted Wheat was fent by Mr, 
Needham to Martin Folkes , Efq; Prelident of 
the 
