Possible Clues:

• The European swallowed this, by the sound of it, and ceased to be seedy, perhaps
• Though seedy, perhaps, it sounds as if the European had a meal
• (Of seed) shoot
• Unfinished Zola novel needs time and energy to come to life
• Shoot head off pests coming through entrance
• How the European, by the sound of it, was fed enough to make him grow seedy, perhaps
• A regiment trained to shoot
• Develop one shoot in eight soundly
• Put forth shoots, develop and grow
• Spring up, tearing me apart