221 
Of Vegetables. 
its becoming elaftic enough) into two hemlfpherical 
cups, as at b c, and by that means fling off the feeds* 
Thefe cafes grow in furrows, d e, d e, d e, on the back 
of the leaf, as at fig. 438. in one of which of an inch 
long, are more than three hundred of the above-menti¬ 
oned cafes j and allowing ten feeds to every cafe, makes 
three thoufand feeds ; which multiplied by the number of 
furrows in one leaf, with allowance of the lefler furrows, 
and that fum by the number of leaves commonly grow¬ 
ing upon one root, amounts to above a million of feeds, * 
the annual product of this plant. The feed is of a tawny 
colour, flat and fomewhat oval j of thefe ten thoufand 
are not fo big as a white pepper corn. Fig. 439. repre- 
fents a few of the feed-cafes magnified; they were cut 
out of the furrow at f, in the leaf reprefented by fig* 
4s8 ‘ 
Divers notable means of femination are obferved by 
other authors. Mr. Ray tell us, that a quantity of fern 
feed, laid in a lump, on a paper, the feminal veficulae 
are heard to crackle, burft, and, by the microfcope, the 
feeds are feen to be projected to a confiderable diftance 
from each other. 
Dr. Sloane obferves, that the gentianella flore caeruleo, 
or fpirit leaf, requiring wet weather to be fown in, as 
foon as the leaft drop of rain touches the end of the feed 
veffels, with a fmart noife, and a fudden leap, it opens it- 
felf, and with a fpring fcatters the feed. 
Other plants fow their feeds by inviting birds by their 
agreeable tafte and fmell, to feed on them, fwallow them, 
and carry them about; thereby alfo fertilizing them, by 
palling through their bodies. In fuch manner are nut¬ 
megs and mizzletoe fown and propagated. 
Of 
* Grew. Ana. Plant p. 119 
