BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH 61 



professors at the University. Wislecenus thought he might 

 admit me, and Von Meyer said that if he had sufficient notice 

 in advance, he would make a place for me. He said he only 

 took very advanced students, those who were preparing their 

 dissertation, or who were pursuing researches. The labora- 

 tory is particularly a research laboratory. 



"The rooms are few and small, but such a place as one 

 would be willing to study in. He said that Strohmann, professor 

 of agricultural chemistry and physiology, was my man, and 

 gave me a card to him, which I presented at once. Von Meyer 

 is an elegant gentleman, and the writer of a 'Handbuch der 

 Chemie,' I believe a new edition of Kolbe, but I am not sure 

 of this. His reference library was small, but contained the 

 best. I noticed very few, if any, American publications, and it 

 just occurred to me how inconvenient it would be not to have 

 access to English publications as well in investigation. This 

 is where we have the advantage in our libraries, since we buy 

 all the foreign and have our own, too. 



"Strohman looks like an intelligent but more affable copy 

 of Von Biilow, with gray hair, bright eye, and a very penetrat- 

 ing glance. He spoke and understood English so well that 

 I was able to talk very freely with him about work and the fu- 

 ture lines in which to pursue my studies. He was of the opin- 

 ion that saponin and the study of the saponin plants was where 

 I ought to stop and work up the matter thoroughly. 



"In regard to the study of the chemistry of growing plants 

 in different stages, he agreed to have anything planted and 

 started in a plot of ground belonging to the Agricultural 

 Station for my investigations. In order to save time, I should 

 have my plants all ready to bring over, in order that there 

 should be no delay, and that I should get to work at once. I 

 might have some plants cultivated at home during this next 

 summer, and at different stages of growth have them taken 

 up, dried, and ready to study during the winter. It seems 

 absolutely necessary to concentrate energies upon one group, or 

 a limited number, for studying generally results in accom- 

 plishing little. Strohmann said he would take me into his own 

 private laboratory as a special student. He seemed most anx- 



