's
rays, and papers prepared with it afford very interesting
photographs.-- Future experiments will undoubtedly more fully develope
the photogenic properties of flowers, and practically apply them.

Certain precautions are necessary in extracting the coloring matter of
flowers. The petals of fresh flowers, carefully selected, are crushed
to a pulp in a mortar, either alone or with the addition of a little
alcohol, and the juice expressed by squeezing the pulp in a clean linen
or cotton cloth. It is then to be spread upon paper with a flat brush,
and dried in the air. If alcohol be not added, it must be applied
immediately, as the air changes or destroys the color instantly.

Most flowers give out their coloring matter to alcohol or water--but
the former is found to weaken, and in some cases to discharge
altogether these colors; but they are in most cases restored in drying.
Paper tinged with vegetable colors must be kept perfectly dry and in
darkness.

To secure an eveness of tint on paper it should be first moistened on
the back by sponging, and blotting off with bibulous paper. It should
then be pinned on a board, the moist side downwards, so that two of its
edges--the right and lower ones--project a little over those of the
board. Incline the board twenty or thirty degrees to the horizon, and
apply the tincture with a brush in strokes from right to left, taking
care not to go over the edges which rests on the board, but to pass
clearly over those that project; and also observing to carry the tint
from below upwards by quick sweeping strokes, leaving no dry spaces
between them. Cross these with other strokes from above downwards,
leaving no floating liquid on the paper. Dry as quickly as possible,
avoiding, however, such heat as may injure the tint.

CHAP. IV.

A FEW HINTS AND SUGGESTIONS TO DAGUERREOTYPISTS.

There are very few who may not be capable of practising the
Photographic art, either on paper, or metalic plates--but, like all
other professions, some are more clever in its various processes than
others.

Impatience is a great drawback to perfect success, and combined with
laziness is a decided enemy. Besides this, no one can excel in
Photography who does not possess a natural taste for the fine arts, who
is not quick in discerning grace and beauty--is regardless of the
principles of perspective, foreshortening and other rules of drawing,
and who sets about it merely for the sake of gai