370 



Spalding: Absorption of atmospheric moisture 



This experiment, agreeing with others not reported, indicates 

 no capacity on the part of the leaves of Fouquieria to absorb water 

 vapor, even after they have lost turgescence, or have turned pale 

 and are almost ready to fall, but it does point to the prompt influ- 

 ence of a moist atmosphere, in checking, or even suppressing, 

 transpiration, as the probably significant factor determining the 

 long retention of its leaves the present year. At this writing, 

 December 12, many individuals of the ocotillo have not been com- 

 pletely defoliated since last March. 



In a second experiment with the same species, leafless shoots a 



Table II. Fouquieria splendens. November 13-15, 1905. 



No. 



Time. 



Weight. 



Loss or Gain. 



Conditions. 



I 



11.58 A.M. 



3.858G 







Weighed soon after cutting. Re- 

 corded relative humidity 6 1 percent. 



2 



12.05 P.M. 



7-738 







Weighed soon after cutting. 



I 



1.20 " 



3.856 • 



0.002 1 



Loss. 



• 



After exposure to open air of labora- 

 tory. 



2 



1.24 << 



7-735 



O.OO3 



it 



After exposure to open air of labora- 

 tory. 



I 



3.29 " 



3.868 



O.OI2 



Gain. 



After exposure to nearly saturated 

 atmosphere. 



2 | 



7 7? * * 



j-3j 

 Nov. 14. 



7.756 



0.02I 



1 < 



After exposure to nearly saturated 

 atmosphere. 



I 



9.58 A.M. 



3.886 



O.OlS 



c« 



After exposure to nearly saturated 

 atmosphere. 



2 



10.04 " 



7-785 



O.O29 



if 



After exposure to nearly saturated 

 atmosphere. 



I 



12.54 P.M. 



3-86 3 



O.O23 



Loss. 



After exposure to open air of labora- 

 tory. Recorded relative humidity — 45 

 per cent. 



2 



12.57 « 



7-75° 



O.O35 



a 



After exposure to open air of labora- 



* 











tory. 



X 



2.40 " 



3-873 



O.OIO 



Gain. 



After exposure to nearly saturated 













atmosphere. 



2 



2.45 « 

 Nov. 15. 



7.768 



0.018 



a 



After exposure to nearly saturated 

 atmosphere. 



I 



9.55 A.M. 



3836 



0.037 



Loss. 



After exposure to open air of labora- 













tory. 



2 



10.00 " 



7.712 



0.056 



a 



After exposure to open air of labora- 

 tory. 



I 



12.34 P.M. 



3-848 



0.012 Gain. 



After exposure to nearly saturated 













atmosphere. 



2 



12.40 M 



7-734 



0.022 



ii 



After exposure to nearly saturated 

 atmosphere. 



