211 
Of Vegetables. 
By the ufe of the microfcope we difcover in the feed 
feveral parts of the future tree, only in miniature; par¬ 
ticularly a little root called the radicle, and the Hem 
called the plumule. 
I {hall exhibit the curious and gradual procefs of na¬ 
ture in the vegetation of the feed ; and fir H, in that of 
the garden bean, reprcfented by fig, 427. by which a 
general idea of all feeds may be eafily formed. It hath 
a fthall hole at a, that upon diffedtion is found to ter¬ 
minate againft the flalk of the plumule ; its end is appa¬ 
rent at a, in the tranfverfe feclion of the bean, fig. 428. 
in which figure the feveral coats of the bean appear, the 
innermoH is every where twice, and in fome places thrice 
as thick as the outermoH; and where it furrounds the 
{talk of the plume, it is fix or feven times as thick, as 
may be feen at b, fig. 428. 
The hole a, fig. 427* is not cafuaily made by breaking 
off the {talk, but defign’d for the nurture of the young 
plant, and may be feen in feveral other kinds, as peas, 
vetches, french beans, lupines, lentiles, &c. in other 
feeds alfo, medica tornata, faenugreek, goats-rue, &c. in 
feveral of thefe it is not difcernable without the afliftance 
of the microfcope; and in fome not without cutting off 
part of the feed. When any of the above-named feeds 
have been foaked in water, feveral bubbles will alter¬ 
nately break through this hole on their being fqueezed. 
All feeds having thick and hard covers, are alfo perfo¬ 
rated in the like manner; and thofe lodged in Hones and 
{hells, though not vifibly perforated, yet the Hones and 
{hells themfelves always are. When the coats of the bean 
are flripped off, the feed appears ; its main body is divided 
into two lobes, joined together at the bafe of the bean, 
as at fig. 429. In young beans, efpeeially if boiled, thefe 
*obes eafily {lip afunder; but in dry beans are very diffi- 
P 2 cult 
