Phosphorescence in Wood

Abstract

ONE wet evening last autumn some pieces of phosphorescent wood were brought to me, which had formed part of a dead beech-tree that had been cut down during the day. They shone brightly that evening. The next night they were dark until dipped in water, when the light revived but was much fainter than before. On the third night they seemed to have lost the phosphorescence entirely, for water produced no visible effect on them.