a ee ae 
Book IV. of Seeds. 199 
2. §. Soin Typha major, the Seeds being blow’n off and low’n 
(as the Eggs of many Fifbes {pawn'd_) with great hazard, they are 
{trangely numerous. For as they ftand altogether upon the Spike, they 
make a Cylinder at \eaft fix Inches long, and near §ths of an Inch in Di- 
ametre, or anInch and 4 about. Now 9 of thefe seeds, fet fide to 
fide, as they ftand on the Spzke, make but 3th of an Inchs fo that 72 
make a line of an Inch in Length. But becaufé upon the Sprke, the 
Hairs belonging to the Seeds come between them; we will abate 10, 
and count but 62. Towhich ths of 62, that is( without the Fra@ti- 
on ) 46. being added, makes 108 forthe Circuit of the Cylinder. 
And the Cylinder being fix Inches long, there are fix times 62, that is, 
372, for a Line the length of the Cylwder. Which number being 
multiplied by 108, produceth 40176 the number of Seeds which ftand 
upon one Stalk; and fo, upon three Stalks, which one Plant common- 
ly beats, there are in one year, above a hundred and twenty Thou- 
fand Seeds. 
3. §. SO SOON asthe Seed is ripe, Nature taketh feveral me- 
thods for its being duly fow’n : not only in the opening of the Userus, 
as in fome Inftances (2) hath already been feen ; but alfo in the make (4) P. 3. 
ofthe Seed it elf For Firff, the Seeds of many Plants, which affect Ch. 5. Tab. 
a peculiar Soil or Seat, as of Arum, Poppy, &c. are heavy and fmall 70, & 7%. 
enough, without further care, to fall directly down into the Ground: 
and fo to grow in the fame place where themfelves had their Birth. 
4. §. But if they are fo large and light, as to be expofed to the 
wind, they are often furnifhed with one or more Hooks ; To ftay them 
from ftraying over far from their proper place, till by the fall of Leavs 
or otherwife, they are fafely lodged. So the Seeds of Aves have one 
fingle Hook, thofe of Agrimony and Goofé-grafs, many 5 both the for- 7p, 72. 
mer, loving a Bank for warmth, the latter, a Hedge for its fupport. : 
5. §. Onthe contrary, many Seeds are furnifhed with Wings or 
Feathers. Partly, with the help of the Wind to carry them, when 
they are ripe, from offthe Plat, as thofe of Ah, Maple, Orach, &c. 
leaft ftaying thereon too long, they fhould either be corrupted, or 
mif§their feafon. And partly, to enable them to make their flight, 
more or lef, abroad: that fo they may not, by falling together, come 
up too thick 5 and that if one fhould mifs a good Soy! or Bed, another 
may hit. Sothe Kernels of Pie have wings not unlike to thofe of 
fome Infects 5 yet very fhort, in refpect of the weight of the Seeds Tb. 72, 
whereby they flye not in the Aer, but like domeftick Fowls, only 
flutter upon the Ground, But thofe of Typha, Dandelion and moft 
of the Pappous kind, with many more, have very long and numerous 
Feathers, by which they are wafted every way, and to any diftance 
neceffary for the aforefaid purpofes. 
6. §. Again, there are fome Seeds, which are fcattered not by 
flying abroad, but by being either Spurted, or Slung away. The firlt 
are thofé of Woodforrel which having a running Root, Nature fees it fit 
to fow thé Seeds at fome diftance. The doing of which is effected by 
a white thick and fturdy Cover of a Tendinous or Springy Nature, 10 Tp, 72, 
which the Seed lies within the Café. This Cover, fo {oon as it begins 
to dryé, burfts open on one fide, in an inftant, and is violently turned 
infide outward, a8 you would turn the Gizard of a Fowl; and fo 
fmartly throws off the Seed. ; 




































































