Note 162 — CHAP. XII. Of St. Foin.
Reading edition
The Kernel or Seed, being much swollen in the Ground, I call the Head: This, when it reaches above the Ground, opens in the Middle, and is formed into the Two first Leaves; the Husk always remaining at the same Depth at which it is cover’d: The String that passes from the Husk to the Head, is the Neck; which, when by its too great Length ’tis unable to support the Head till it reaches to the Air, rises up, and doubles above it; and when it does so, the Head, being turn’d with its Top downwards, never can rise any higher, but there rots in the Ground.
[163]In very light Land the Seed will come up from a greater Depth; but the most secure Way is, not to suffer it to be cover’d deep in any Land.
[164]We say it is malted, when it lies above-ground, and sends out its Root, which is killed by the Air. And whether we plant bad Seed that does not grow, or good Seed buried or malted, the Consequence will be much the same, and the Ground may be equally understock’d with Plants.