Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1875-07-10
Hartford, VT, June 80, 1877
Capillarity.

Mr. EditOr:-
The term used is described in an old dictionary
of mine as "hairike attraction" and that is all;
the more recent definition is "osmose," or send
osmose." l think the three terms, as given, are
synonymous, and are each used to describe the
principle involved in the powers of sap ascension
and circulation. To ILLUSTRATE more fully, place
lump Of loaf sugar in a saucer, adding little
water, when the liquid will rise almost instantly
over two inches above its level On this principle
the pise * sap in trees has been explained
Berqueel, an ancient French scientist, con-
siders that electricity is an acting cause. a cap.
Hilary tube that will not allow water to pass
through it does so ut once on being electrified,
ana he concludes that electro capiarity is the
efficient cause of sap travelling in vegetable life.
The theory of sap ascension, "the how" is Il sub.
ject that has received an immense amount of eX-
animation and experiment from the worlds most
profound thinkers through a long series Of years.
We are indebted to Dutrochet for the discovery of
the principle of osmose, which causes unlike
buds, separated by thin septum, TO flow to.
gether with different degrees of rapdity. Thus if
o solution Of sugar he separated by a thin mem.
brane from pure water the water will pass
| through into the sugar freely, while minute pOr-
ton of sugar will enter the water, the result being
a large increase in the volume of the sugar sOlu.
| ton. This force, under favorable circumstances
will overcome the force of gravitation SO as to
cause the rise Of water in a tube to cor. siderable
| hight.
The osmose principle is one amongst others as.
signed as the explanation of the rise Of sap, but
although very beautiful as theory, is ncverthe-
/ pt-
most novel idea is the one propounded by Avis
ter, Spanish savan, who contends that the same
influence which operates to govern the ebb and
flow of tides, produces a like effect upon the flow
of sap in growing vegetables. HIS observations
extend over II years and although the idea is de
cdedly new, nevertheless he succeeds in cOnvinc
ing that his theories are not all moonshiRe.
Prof. VS.. Clark, President of the Mass. Agr
cultural College, has devoted much time and at
tenhon, with view to elicit the true theory he
cites the opinions of those who lave preceded
him very voluminously, showing where they fail
to establish the true cause, but which your space
would not permit any extended allusion to. Ny
attention was drawn to the matter from perusinp
in a copy of the Massachusetts Ploughnsun an &C
count Of certain experiments made by Levi Bart
lett, of Warner, farmer possessing brain as wei
as being a muscular thinker and worker. The
Courier detGt Unts, French paper, describes ON
modern Cesar as "a man who says little anC
thinks lessIi' Well, he does not resemble him
George Francis Train, another celebrity, talk
much and says less" Another instance is citct
where an individuals described as being talkaiv
as a sewing society," omit name to prevent hi
being handled somewhat roughly by the softe
An toI ie of ne Eba 1,,,
thread ofhis verbosty finer than the staple of hi
argument-tOngue loose at both ends" Well, MI
Bartlett does not begin to correspond with any 0
those have too profusely portrayed, but as | be
fore observed is close thinker. Let me give hi
experiment in his own words:
? 81 obtained from DR.. jackson, of Boston,
tubulated Cuppng glass and glass tube sima
to that of thermometer-the top Of the formc
was similar to that of small phial-into wllic
was inserted tight fitting cork; the cork wa
, perforated so as to admit the insertion of til
glass tube, which was about 16 inches in length
The bottom of the cupping glass had rim abot
its lower edge, and over the bottom of it wa
tightly drawn piece of pigs bladder. The cul
r ping glass was filed with water sweetened wit
molasses; the cup was then placed in saucer
pure water. On the following morning ii
sweetencd water was running over the top of Il
, sixteen inch tube and the process was continue
e for ten days, when emptied the wa ter fearing
q might freeze and fracture the glass"
From previous knowledge that by way of
lustration you use, a tube of glass of minute boz
I say broken thermometer, having its lower cr
placed in water the liquid will rise perhaps to
p inch above the general level, and here it win y
. main. The cause of this ascent is the athactiC
of the glass for the liquil AMI the liquid for itse
this principle is true caplarity but bear in mir
4 perpetual flow of water cannot be produced |
q this action since if we cut off the tube leaving
4 only three-fourths inch above the water the q
traction of the glass will draw the liquid up to Il
L very top but will not permit it to run over b
Il cause the same attraction which suspends it w
G prevent it from overlooking. The atom of wat
, at the top of the tube will be attracted as nut
downward by the glass Us the next atom belo
u will be attracted upwards, hence equilibrium e
u sues. Knowing the foregoing was puzzled
# understand fully Mr.. Bartletts success, and f
# that reason sought an explanation from Anne
cas- greatest scientist, Prof. Joseph Henry, and
y have his reply which reserve for another ss
: of your journal.
n JonS COLLIN.
- WOODS EAGLE MOWER.