Chap. IV.] 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
151 
But, perhaps, the strongest proof of a winter 
circulation of sap is, that if boughs of ever¬ 
greens are cut in the winter, and suspended to 
the boughs among which they grew, they die, 
while all remains green around them. Why is 
this, but because their brethren are supplied 
with sap from the parent root, while they are 
cut off from it ? Yet, according to Liebig, 
branches in leaf should not only support them¬ 
selves, but feed the tree which bears them 
through the hot months of continental summers. 
So far from this, however, being the case, they 
cannot even support themselves in the moist 
atmosphere of an English winter. 
The laurel is among the latest in fading. 
In about three weeks, however, its leaves may 
be seen to turn paler, and may be felt less 
leather-like and more thin and paper-like. The 
dead leaves will then constantly play the second 
act of Gideon’s fleece; that is, they will be 
found dry when their surrounding living sister 
leaves are condensing and bedewed to the ut¬ 
most on both sides of each leaf. If the experi¬ 
ment is tried in an east wind and a clear sky, 
about the end of February or beginning of 
March, the fading and drying will be much 
more rapid ; still more rapid in a room with a 
L 4 
