Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1888-02-01
PHOSPHORESCENCE.

hVol
The cause of phosphorescent light,
as we'll as its nature, is, in many
cases, puzzle alike to the common
and scientific observer. The light
comes from very different sources.
The appearance of any fish that is
partially decayed gives the most
common example. In the case OF
such decay, the light may be attribu-
ted to the PHOSPHORUS set free. But
the same name is given to the lig ht
emitted by the glow-worm or the
FREELY. In this case there is no such
decomposition of elements.
The phosporescence Of the sea is
referred to the presence of minute
medus@ creatures of the simplest or
ganism. There are some species of
fungus that are producers of light.
In these instances it seems to be a
result of the functions of life, rather
than phenomenon accompanying
death. This light is given off in
some instances where the decay does
not seem likely to liberate any phos-
phorous, and where, If any fungus
is growing, it cannot be detected
easily. A Scotch writer, Mr.. w. A!
Smith, tells how he was surprised at
the appearance of piece of fir wood.
In this country a decaying maple
log, lying in wet place, yields the
best results. During our walk
through the woods the other even
ing" says Mr.. Smith, 1--WE came
upon what appeared to be salt her.
ring lying in the road. On turning
it over with our feet it seemed slop-
ply, and we foolishly passed it. A
few yards farther on another bril-
liant streak of light attracted our at
tention, and we this time decided to
attempt its capture. A piece of pa
per was employed, to prevent an
unpleasant meeting, and we then lift
ed, most circumspectly, what prov
ed to be neither more or less than a
piece of Scotch fir from one of the
fallen trees alongside. Apparently
new break was the phosphorescent
surface, and the night being wet and
dark, we suppose this had some in
fuence. After drying it next day
we again tried it in the dark, and it
still showed brilliantly, so the wet
had nought to do with it. Under a
lens no fungus could be seen, only
the rough, broken fibres on the sur
face Youths Companion.
THE CAUSE OF THE GLACIAL PERIOD.
The ocean equalizes the earth's
temperature. How delicately bal
onnn1 tho fnroao nf fo
glaciers, may be seen in the fact that
there have been five periods of ad-
vance and retreat in Switzerland
since 1900. Were the Sahara desert
to be inundated, it might disastrous
ly change the climate of centrals
Europe.
The orbit of the earth is an ellipse;
its longer diameter being 100000
miles more than its shorter. The
sun is in one foci of this ellipse the
earth's summer solstice is fully sew
en- days longer than the winter. The
present is favorable to glaciation in
the southern hemisphere.
There should be an increase of
glaciers each 1000 years, due to the
earth's changing relations to the
sun. Special epochs have been 200,-
900, 100000 and $4,000 years ago,
and similar epochs are expected
100000, 100000 and 5000, 900 years to
come. Crolps theory. rests -on hy-
potheses and assumptions. He takes
the winds and ocean currents for
stable quantities. But the Gulf
Stream-fifty miles wide, 1000 feet
deep, and which moves four miles
an hour-and the trade winds need
to be accounted for. The southeast
trade winds predominate. Why?
Because the southern hemisphere is
cooler. But why is it cooler? The
extent and depth of southern oceans
add power to the winds in that hem
isphere. While the trade winds are
steady but not strong, they are some
times interrupted by, terrible mon
soons. Not all cold seas are favora-
BILE to glaciation; those in the far
North lack moisture.
The weak point in Mr.. Croll's
theory is his failure to satisfactorily
account for absorption, retention and
distribution of heat received from
the sun. Why do clouds prevent
frost? Why does heat pass into
glass easily (as into green house,
and not so easily escape? The equa-
tor is not so hot, nor the arctic region
so cold as they ought to be according
to the heat received from the sun.
The difference between the equator
and the coldest point on parallel 67
(Where the mean temperature in
January is Sc degrees below zero,)
which ought to be 172 degrees, is but
about rs degrees. We do not know
what caused the glaciers, but glacial
lists are more concerned with the
facts of glaciation.-Prof. Wright Of
Harvard.