248 
somewhere in the albumen , and either in the superior or inferior segment of 
the divided seed. In this last case, which is by far the most frequent, a 
new section is to be made in another seed, which will divide it, according to 
its axis, into two equal parts. 
The segments being again thrown into water, are to be treated in the 
same manner exactly as the transverse segments; by this means the embryo , 
unless it be extremely minute, may easily be detected in one of the extre¬ 
mities, or the back of the seed, either in the form of a more or less short 
cylinder, or of a snowy or green globule; and, if the section be rightly 
made, it sometimes falls spontaneously out of its cavity, and sinks to the 
bottom of the water. 
This very simple process is alone sufficient to detect, and afterwards 
entirely denude the embryo , in by far the greatest number of seeds: but 
when a seed occurs, possessing a cartilaginous albumen , and a very minute 
embryo , as in As arum , then the examination is to be conducted in a different 
manner. In this case, at that extremity of the seed, where we suspect the 
embryo to be situated, thin plates are to be repeatedly and carefully cut away 
from the dorsal and ventral part of the albumen , till only the middle very 
thin plate remains, which is then to be put into water, or oil of turpentine, 
till it becomes pellucid like glass. By these means, unless the seed be 
barren, which indeed often happens, the embryo will be detected by a good 
lens, of the form of a snowy medullary point, which, from its whiteness, is 
not easily distinguished from the albumen . 
It is not easy to describe in what manner very minute embryos of this 
kind are to be freed from their albumen , that they may be farther examined 
by themselves: this is to be left to the dexterity of each person. 
But whether we are desirous of examining seeds, with a view to scruti¬ 
nize the albumen and embryo , or on'any other account, we ought always to 
remember that they should be thrown into water, and detained there some 
time, however fresh they are; for, without this preparation, it can never be 
learnt, for example, whether they are gelatinous or not, because this quality, 
even in the most recent dry seed, cannot be detected by the eye; and it 
can never be known in old seeds, whether they have formerly been berried 
or not, because the fleshy pellicle, except in moistened seeds, cannot be 
properly distinguished; not to say any thing of the greater tractability of 
the moistened albumen , and of the less degree of brittleness of the softened 
embryo . 
