344 s. KusANO : transpiration of 



in only 10 minutes (compare Curve X in Plate XVIII). In the 

 latter plant, the absorption of water in the first 10 minutes was 

 5 mm. but after about one hour it reached the maximum of 

 50 mm. (vide Table XII and Curve XII). 



This mode of absorption dej)end3 not only upon either the 

 temperature of the open air or that of the room, but also varies 

 according to tlie nature of the plants used in the experiments. 

 In a branch of Thea japonica, cut off on a very cold morning 

 and brought into a room, in which the temperature stood at 

 1.8°C., and l.O'^C. in air and water respectively, I could not 

 observe any increase of the power of absorption, but, on the 

 contrary, when the cutting surface was made, the power was most 

 visforous at first which we often observe to be the case in an 

 ordinary temperature. In Aucuha japonica (vide Tables XII and 

 XIII) and TernstTœmia japonica (vide Table XIV), a retardation 

 of the absorption was indicated even at a little higher tempera- 

 ture. 



In order to reach the maximum degree of absorption, more 

 than one hour after the branch was brought in the room, seemed 

 to be necessary in my experiments ; thus, in Dap>hniphyllum, 

 it was reached in one case after two and a half hours, and in 

 another after two hours and forty minutes ; in Aucuha the interval 

 was in one instance one hour and twenty minutes and in another 

 nearly two hours ; in Pamnia glabra, one hour and twenty 

 minutes ; and in Ternslrœmia, only forty minutes (compare Table 

 X-XV and Plate XVIII). 



This rapid absorption of water during the first few hours is 

 due not to the suddenrise of transpiration, but to the restoration of 

 the absorping power itself. This may take place in the follow- 

 ing way : — Exposure of the plants during the night to a cold 



