This paper discusses the essentials of the oil-filled pressure probe techni
que in the measurement of negative xylem pressures, focusing in particular
on the technique and physics underlying our recent, successful experiment w
hich has rekindled the debate on the validity of the Cohesion-Tension theor
y. We illustrate a number of general problems associated with the cell pres
sure probe and xylem pressure probe techniques, and propose appropriate cri
teria for micropipette construction. We enumerate factors dealing with the
cavitation problem and suggest methods for eliminating air seeds in the sys
tem. We introduce reliable criteria for the,successful measurement of xylem
pressure, and emphasize the importance of the probe pressure relaxation te
st. Several problems regarding the controversy over the Cohesion-Tension th
eory are also discussed. We discuss the correlation between xylem pressure
and the transpiration rate, the existence of absolute negative xylem pressu
re in intact plants, the most negative values of xylem pressure measured by
the pressure probe, the agreement between the pressure probe and pressure
bomb techniques, and the vulnerability to cavitation (tensile strength) of
pressure probes.