( 572 ) 
cannot ascend more than 14 metres without the help of life, for 
Strasburger’s experiments show that this is indeed possible. But that 
is not the question; The position is simply this, that in a living 
tree the water'is pumped up by living elements, where¬ 
as in a dead one it also ascends, but through other 
causes e.g., with the help of cohesion. 
Let us test this view by the data in the table: 
Point 1. The question of continuity is only of importance for the 
cohesion theory. As soon as this has been refuted in another way, 
the question of the continuity of water, may be left untill it may 
perhaps arise again in connection with new questions. 
Point 2. The intoxication experiments of Strasburger have been 
included in my thesis. 
Point 3. Although the experiments of Ursprung do not prove 
anything certain in favour of Godlewski’s theory, they certainly 
prove nothing against it. 
Point 4. The anatomical structure of the wood can never be 
adduced as an actual objection to the view here put forward. As 
soon as it has been proved that the living wood pumps, this fact 
cannot of course be weakened because we cannot at once imagine 
from its structure how this action may take place. The investigation 
of this point must simply be left for further research. 
Point 6. The distribution of pressure is quite in agreement with 
Godlewski’s view. When pressor factors are everywhere present in 
the trunk, the distribution of pressure cannot be predicted as long 
as these factors themselves are not fully known. 
We see therefore that the questions discussed here do not produce 
an objection to my view. In this preliminary communication I have 
of course limited myself to the most important matter; afterwards 
I hope to treat the same subject more completely. 
I might have omitted the literature entirely, but it seemed desirable 
briefly to justify my quotations and references. The small figures in 
the text refer to the bibliography which is appended below. 
I wish to conclude this preliminary communication by pointing 
out that the method which is here introduced, may also be of service 
in the solution of other questions. By its aid we might, for instance, 
ascertain whether the living elements cooperate, when a branch is 
made to transport water in the inverse direction; the influence of 
all sorts of stimuli (heat, cold, electricity, stimulant substances) on 
the activity of these elements can be examined. Should the intoxi¬ 
cation experiments of Strasburger be repeated with manometers 
fixed to the experimental trees, they would at once constitute a 
