212 
Of Vegetables, 
cult to be feparated, unlefs they be firft macerated fo 
twenty-four hours in water. Some few feeds are divi¬ 
ded into more lobes, as the crefles into fix, and fome not 
at all, as grains of corn, &c. moft other feeds, even the 
fmalleft, are divided exactly into two lobes like the bean; 
that which joins the two lobes together is called the Item 
or radicle, out of which the root is formed when the feed 
vegetates. This item is found in all feeds; in the bean 
and feveral others, it is fituated fomewhat above the thick, 
end, in oak kernels, commonly called acorns, apple-ker¬ 
nels, almonds, &c. it ftands prominent juft from the 
end. 
The plume or bud iflues out of this ftem, and is that 
which afterwards becomes the trunk of the plant, fe- 
parable in feveral already formed, though not difplayed, 
leaves, which appear upon the fprouting of the feed, and 
may be feen in the feed itfelf by the aififtance of the mi- 
crofeope. 
The plume is inclofed in a cavity formed in the lobes 
on purpofe for its reception, which may be feen at b, fig. 
429. it is almoft of the fame colour with the radicle, or 
little root, on the bafts whereof it is fuftained. 
It is the firft part that appears out of the earth; as in 
effedf it is the firft part that appears out of the mem¬ 
brane, or cover of the feed, there being a hole over againft 
it in the membrane, through which it makes its efcape. 
It is the appearance of the plume without the cavity 
of the grain, that makes what we call the bud or germ 
of a plant. 
In difte&ing a bean, if you hold your knife aflope, 
and very gently bear upwards, an exceeding thin and 
tranfparent Ikin will fliew itfelf, juft as the knife enters ; 
this Ikin is not only fpread over the convex of the lobes, 
but alfo upon the flat thereof, and is extended both upon 
the 
