5o8 The yoiinial of Forestry. 



simple suggestions as to the probable cause of it. In the first place, 1 find 

 that luminous wood (or touchwood, as it is called in Shropshire) will not 

 produce the luminous appearance unless it has been buried in the ground, 

 and suddenly brought to the surface in a moist, damp state, such as your 

 correspondent would perceive in the decayed roots of the spruce fir. Or, 

 again, when the decayed wood is lying on the surface of the ground in a 

 dry state, after a gentle shower, or a good " Scotch mist," the same 

 luminous appearance will be perceived, consequently the gases are not pro- 

 duced when the decayed wood is in a perfectly dry state. Now I believe 

 the gases that are produced from this wood are exactly the same as those 

 which produce the will-o'-the-wisp, so frequently seen in damp, marshy 

 ground. If not so, perhaps some scientific reader would enlighten us more 

 on this subject. It must also be observed that the luminous a^jpearance 

 is not perceived in the daytime, being only visible in the twilight or dark- 

 ness. I may also add, in conclusion, for those who may not have the 

 chance of seeing touchwood, that much the same appearance, only perhaps 

 not quite so brilliant, is produced by fresh herrings, if they are put upon a 

 plate and placed in a dark room. — Richard JandreU, HawTcstone, Saloj^. 



The phosphorescent appearance on F. Herbert's spruce fir roots was 

 caused by a fungus. I have seen it on a variety of woods after decay has 

 set in. The wood in itself is not luminous. I have scraped off the fungus, 

 and " in an instant a' was dark." — Andrew Skifer, Hose Cotfaf/e, Loftiis. 



Climbing Trees. — In answer to Mr. Dealy's question as to the best 

 and easiest method of climbing trees, I would recommend the use of 

 dimMng irons, of which there are several kinds. The best and simplest 

 description of them which I have used is made as follows : — Get a bar of 

 good steel, f inch wide by | inch thick ; then have the longest side of the 

 climbing iron made to reach up the outside of the leg to the knee, and at 

 about two inches from the top have a hole made for a leather strap to go 

 round the leg. A similar hole will also be required near the bottom of the 

 iron, just above the boot, for a strap to go round the ankle. The iron 

 then is made to turn under the foot with a sharp hook projecting from its 

 end inwards. The man, or boy, when he has fastened the irons on pro- 

 perly, walks up to the tree, and, placing both his hands as far round the 

 stem as he can, lifts his foot, and with a smart jerk sideways strikes and 

 fastens the hook of the iron into the bark of the tree. With a slight spring 

 he then fastens the corresponding hook on the other foot as much higher 

 up the tree as he can easily, and so on moving each foot alternately till the 

 desired height is reached, A little practice would be necessary for an 

 amateur to learn to use them with ease and safety in climbing large trees. 

 Let him find a tree to practise on which he can clasp well with his arms, 

 and so guard against any danger of falling. This precaution he will find is 

 not necessary after a little practice. I have had timber fellers who could 

 use them with freedom and ease in climbing large trees, up which they 

 would "swarm," or scramlile, nearly as fast as any squirrel, — R. Jandrpll, 

 Hau'lfsfone, Salop. 



