any other reply to
J. L. S. (Vol. ix., p. 282.), the following, as the method I always adopt,
may serve his purpose.

Having cut the positive to the size required, and trimmed the edges, place
it upon the cardboard to which it is intended to be attached, and carefully
centre it; then with a pencil make a slight dot at each of the angles.
Remove the proof, and lay it _face downwards_ upon a piece of clean paper
or a cloth, and with any convenient brush smear it evenly over with a paste
made of arrowroot, taking care not to have more than just enough to cover
it without leaving any patches. Place it gently on the cardboard, holding
it for the purpose by two _opposite_ angles, and with a silk handkerchief
dab it gently, beginning in the middle, and work any little superfluity of
the paste towards the edges, when it will be gradually pressed out. The
whole may be placed in a press, or under a pile of books to dry. {333}

My object in using arrowroot is simply that of having a _pure starch_
without colour, and it serves as a size to the paper, which has lost that
originally in it by the repeated washings, &c.

The paste is made very thin, thus:--Put a teaspoonful of arrowroot (not
_heaped_) into a teacup with about two spoonfuls of cold water, and mix
into a paste: then add _boiling_ water enough to fill the cup, and stir.
Many photographers merely attach the _edges_ of their pictures, but I
prefer them to adhere all over. Gum is fatal to the beauty of a photograph,
unless it is previously re-sized.

GEO. SHADBOLT.

_Mr. Lyte's Collodion_ (Vol. ix., p. 225.).--Our readers may remember that
in "N. & Q.," Feb. 18, MR. F. MAXWELL LYTE furnished our readers with a
detailed plan of his mode of preparing collodion. In that article, written
from Pau, that gentleman was so good as to promise us that when he had an
opportunity he would send us a couple of specimens of his workmanship. He
has more than fulfilled his promise, for we have received from him this
week four photographs, which, for general beauty and minuteness of detail,
cannot be surpassed. The subjects are, I. Study of Trees, No. 2.; II. Study
of Trees, No. 5. Old Pollard Oak; III. Study of Trees, Peasants collecting
Leaves; IV. Old Church Porch, Morlaas, Monogram of the Eleventh Century.
MR. LYTE, who is a first-rate chemist, has shown himself by these specimens
to be also a first-rate practical photographer. From him, therefore, the
art may look for much future pro