Y8 THE CONNECTICUT AGRICULTURAL 



tree with the advancing season, so that before the leaves fade 

 they have lost the larger part of what was most valuable in them, 

 which the tree retains for its furtlier use. Rissmiiller's investiga- 

 tions on the leaves of the beech tree* show that in their dry sub- 

 stance the highest percentage ainount of nitrogen, phosphoric 

 acid and potash, is found when they open in May, and this per- 

 centage quite regularly decreases till they ripen- and fall, but the 

 absolute amount of nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash is greatest 

 in July and from that time on decreases. 



From an oak tree standing on a lawn at the Station, leaves 

 were carefully jiicked at three different periods, as follows : 



Oct. 16. The leaves were bright green and showed no signs 

 of fading or changing color. 



Nov. 13. The leaves were brown, having almost entirely lost 

 their reddish tinge. Leaves were falling from the tree, but not 

 rapidly. It retains part of its leaves till the buds start in the 

 spring. 



March IV. The upper branches were quite bare, but the lower 

 ones had still many leaves. 



Two samples of leaves from a chestnut tree ( Gastanea vesea) 

 which stands on the Station land were also gathered on the 

 following dates : 



Oct. 16. The leaves were green and unfaded. 



Nov. 13. The leaves were ripe and ready to fall. 



The tree was nearly bare and the next day was entirely so. 



Analyses of the Fresh Leaves. 



, Oak. . , Chestnut. . 



Oct. 16. Nov. 13. Mar. 17. Oct. 16. Nov. 13. 



Water 56.6.30 29.743 J0.496 60.215 31.675 



Albuminoids-.- 5.287 3.403 3.898 4.314 4.215 



Fiber 9.185 20.379 24.322 6.705 13.395 



Non-nitrogenous Extract 24.938 39.335 52.858 23.473 42.333 



Ether Extract -. 1.630 3.340 3.898 3.480 5.407 



Ash 2.330 3.800 4.528 1.813 2.975 



100.000 100.000 100.000 100.000 100.000 



* Landwirthschaft. Versuchs-Stationen XVII, 30. 



