BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 111 
Leaves used as fodder, etc., must differ in nutritive value to 
a very great extent if their starchy contents vary so largely dur- 
ing the day and night; it thus becomes of primary importance 
whether such leaves are gathered in the morning or the evening, 
in cold or warm weather, etc. The same applies to tobacco and 
tea, ete. It must make a vast difference to the smoker whether 
his tobacco abounds in carbohydrates or is relatively richer in the 
alkaloids. It appears that tobacco is habitually cropped in the 
morning in some countries, a fact which suggests what experience 
has already shown that a difference in the quality exists; it wil 
be interesting to inquire further into these matters. 
chs’ results will also materially affect the physiological 
value of the analysis of leaves. Some of us know how great are 
the variations met with in the analysis of the ash contents of 
leaves of the same plant. It is clear that in addition to the age 
of the leaf, the soil, manure, etc., it is important to know the 
amount of starch present. It can not but happen that the min- 
eral matters ebb and flow as well as the starch. The analysis of 
leaves will also be more valuable for the purposes of physiology 
if the numbers are stated not in simple percentages, but in terms 
of one square meter of leaf-surface. 
The above brief summary of the results obtained by Prof. 
Sachs by no means does justice to the beauty of bis methods, and 
the masterly way in which they are carried out ; it must be ad- 
mitted by all who understand the value and importance of this 
work that it is worthy of the great pioneer of vegetable physiol- 
oreover; it suggests several matters which require fur- 
ther investigation, and no doubt would yield valuable results to 
those fortunate enough to have a botanical garden at hand.—2. 
Marshall Ward, in Nature, XXIX., 554. 
GENERAL NOTES. 
Necrology.—Avcusrus Fenpuer died on the island of Trinidad, Novem- 
ber 27, 1883, at the age of seventy-one. This we learn only at the present date, 
by a memorandum which was found on the table of the lamented Dr. Engel- 
mann who was so soon to follow him. Fendler was born in Eastern Prussia, 
Somewhere near Konigsberg, received a good ordinary education, came to this 
country not far from the year 1840, was selected by Dr. Engelmann and the pres- 
ent writer to make a botanical collection in the northern part of New Mexico 
on the occasion of the movement of the United States troops to Sante Féin 1846. 
Afterwards (1856-7) he, with a younger brother, migrated to Tovar, a German 
