266 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [APRIL 
taken to represent closely the amount of water absorbed, though, 
owing to loss during the operation of drying the surface, the amount 
absorbed must often have been rather greater than the increase 
of weight indicated. In the first preliminary set of observations, 
a pair of large balances, weighing satisfactorily to ten milligrams, 
was employed; but in subsequent experiments quantitative bal- 
ances were used, the weighing being made to a milligram in each 
case. Changes during the process of weighing rendered it as useless 
as it was unnecessary to attempt a higher degree of accuracy. 
Inspection of Table I shows that leafy shoots of Celtis, Covil- 
lea, and Lycium, by immersion in water for three hours, gained 
1.9 to 5 per cent. of their original weight; Atriplex in a little longer 
TABLE I. 
PRELIMINARY TEST OF CAPACITY FOR ABSORPTION. November 1904. 
Species Date 7 Time baton ig = esa 
Covillea tridentata (1)......... Nov. 1 10:12 A, M. 18.540 
; : 1:12 P.M, 19.250 | 3.8 gain 
Covillea tridentata (2) ........ i 9 10:55 A.M. 8.235 
: : 1:56 P.M. So6ca ) fossa 3s 
RMN IME NOM ss 0g 9 ld san wc 5 I 10:57 A.M. 24.920 
: <a 1357 P.M. 26.060 .| 4.9 * 
Lycium Berlandieri........... ee I 10:45 A.M. 7.105 
: ; 1:45 P.M. e240 | ig ~ 
Peaeia COnstACta. so s.5 of < 7 hs I 11:14 A.M. 6.260 
; ‘ I:14 P.M., 6.463 | £25 * 
pruayes Velen. oo ah ae bs ‘ I 10:30 A.M. 4.200 
; a 1:30 P.M. £6 ot 8 7 F 
Parkinsonia microphylla....... a I 10:22 A.M. 10.410 
: E 1:22 P.M. 10.490 | 0.8 “ 
Parkinsonia Torreyana........ eae” 11:03 A.M. 4.070 
: 2202 P.M. 4.085 eee 
Atriplex canescens............ ne SES 10:21 A.M. 2.140 
, re 1:44 P.M. g0ep.: [2 eis 
Zizyphus lycioides............. v4 9 11:39 A.M. 19.270 
ins 3:25 P.M. 19.370°]:.0.3: * 
Fouquieria splendens.......... Ss 9 11:21 A.M. 21.776 
2:24 P.M. 21.920 | 0.7 “ 
ea tet 3:32 P.M. 21.770 
Koerberlinia spinosa........... Sade: >. 10:41 A.M. 8.650 
’ ; 1:40 P. M. 8.670 | 0.2 “ 
Encelia farinosa..... 2.05556... < 9 12:00 M 5.010 
3:00 P.M Go PaaS 
3:18 P.M 5-000 
Sphaeralcea pedata........... meer ae 12:07 P.M 1.120 
3:12° P.M i.e besa 
3-21 P.M 1.110 
2 sinscmmoneas ini 
