MICHIGAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 
57 
cells of trees, is as great as that of Swedish filter paper, the importance of 
capillarity as a factor can not be of very high significance. But we have 
no proof that it is the same. 
Commercial artificial silk does not possess nearly so strong a capillary 
attraction as does the filter paper here used. 
What the experiments here described seem to prove is this: The capillary 
attraction of cellulose for water is of such an amount as to cause an ascent 
against the influence of gravitation, of 66 cm. vertically. That gravitation 
is a controlling factor was shown by the fact that, when the tubes were placed 
in a slanting position, the liquids rose to the same height and of course to a 
greater distance along the tubes. 75 cm. becomes one side of a right angled 
triangle, the height of tube the hypothenuse, and the horizontal distance 
the other side of the triangle. 
As cellulose in some form is one of the most important substances known 
to man to-day, it is worthy of minute investigation from every point of 
view. 
Agricultural College April 3, 1908. 
