THE HE house which is nearly hidden by the enormous mass of flowers shown in the accompanying illustration, is nearly thirty feet high, yet all of the flowers are growing on a single bush. They are known as "Gold of Ophir" roses. So large is the bush that some of its upper branches have extended until they actually rest upon the roof of the house. It was necessary to cut away a part of the bush in order to allow persons to enter the cottage. As the photographi shows the flowers are so numerous that they conceal nearly all of the foliage. The bush is growing in a suburb of the city of Los Angeles, California. Motor-Cycle Sled NOT the least unique portion of the equipment of the Polar expedition which is about to start for the north under Mr. Walter Wellman, will be a combination motor-cycle and sled, designed for travel over snow and ice fields. As will be seen from the illustration, runners are placed in front, constructed of small-size steel tubing, well braced. In addition to the steel runners, a pair of hickory runners has been provided, which can be lifted from the ground when the snow becomes too deep for the rear wheel to revolve. A steel-studded tire is used, whose rim is reinforced with a band of galvanized iron having two-inch corrugations at intervals of four inches. MOTOR-SLED INTENDED FOR USE ON WELLMAN POLAR EXPEDITION. The motor, which is of the "Indian" type, is of two and one-half horse-power, and and the machine weighs about 200 pounds. Number Thirty-The Print OLLOWING the negative, come the prints; for, even if there is no demand from one's friends, several prints are made to determine how the best results may be obtained. Some negatives yield most attractive pictures with light prints; others demand considerable depth; while still others require some parts to be printed very dark. When the beginner reaches the point where he can make a good negative (and often before this. stage is reached), he begins to think about the print, and he asks-What kind? The desired effect, the quality of the negative, and the expense are the factors which decide the question. Sometimes the permanency of the picture, and in some cases the purpose, are important. Most photographers are familiar with all the printing processes; and although they have preference, they are compelled to use the one best suited to the needs of the moment. The beginner would do well to be content at first with one or two, and then add other processes as occasion demands. Printing In all processes of making prints, the prepared paper is acted on by light, the transparent parts of the negative permitting the most light to pass; hence these parts become dark. Thus the negative is the means of making a positive-that is, a print with the tones nearly the same as they were in the original object. To accomplish this, the negative is placed in a printing frame with the film side toward the removable back, and the coated side of the paper in contact with the film. The springs maintain the close contact, and prevent movement of the paper when, by opening one side, the progress of the printing is being examined in a dim light. Blue-Printing Probably the simplest picture to make. is the blue-print-so called from its color. Blue-print paper has one side coated with a solution of which the chief ingredients are red prussiate of potash and ammonia citrate of iron; the proportions determining to a great extent the speed of working. To make a blue-print, the paper is exposed under the negative to the sunlight until the dark parts or shadows are gray or bronzed and the half-tones are easily distinguished; it is then washed in an abundance of water. This is all that is necessary, but it is important to use plenty of pure water. Pictures made by this process are contrasty, and in many instances the blue color is not suitable; but for low cost and ease of manipulation it is a favorite with many, and often used when the negative is not considered worth a more expensive process. Beginners should purchase their paper rather than attempt to make it, and should always insist that it be fresh. Platinotype This print is probably the most pleasing of all, with the possible exception of carbon prints, which are extremely difficult. Platinotype is permanent, easy to handle, and has a wide range of tone, black and sepia being most common. It renders contrasts of negative nearly as they are. Although the paper itself is expensive, the chemicals are moderate in (Rights of publication reserved by author.) cost, and the chance of spoiling is slight if the paper is freshly coated. The progress of the printing can be examined, and when the high lights have changed from a lemon to a light brown, the print is quickly developed in the prepared developer; without washing, it is placed for a few minutes each in two or three very weak solutions of muriatic acid. These prints can be washed in a few minutes, for it is necessary only to wash out the acid. Three to five changes of water only are required. In this respect, platinotype has a great advantage over papers that must be fixed with hypo, which is so difficult to wash out. This paper may be handled in a subdued light. Gaslight Prints The fact that the so-called "gaslight" or "developing" papers can be printed by gaslight or by a kerosene light in one to six minutes, gives them an extended use. Like a dry plate, an exposed print has the same appearance as the unexposed paper. The picture is handled like a plate-developed, fixed in hypo, then washed thoroughly. When printed in a soft light (with long exposure) the prints are excellent. They are more contrasty than platinotype. Gaslight prints have the disadvantage of a complicated process and prolonged washing. They give good results in making half-tone plates. Sun-Printing Papers The papers just briefly described are the most popular with amateurs, and justly so. For illustrations, engravers prefer prints on a glossy surface, because every detail is brought out sharply. This effect is obtained by using a sun-printing paper, which, after being toned in gold and fixed in hypo, is placed on a ferrotype or japanned plate-which, by the way, must be absolutely clean. After drying in close contact, the glacé surface results. The chief disadvantage of this print is its lack of permanency. Unless most carefully washed, the image gradually fades. Salt-Matt Process This process also finds most extensive utility as a means of preparing prints for engraving; but while sun-printing papers are for half-tone plates, the salt print is for line work. In making pen drawings of buildings or people, a print is made on paper coated with ammonium chloride, carbonate of soda, and citric acid. After drying, it is made sensitive with nitrate of silver. The lines of the picture are drawn in ink, and then the color or tone is removed by mercuric chloride. Chinese Wireless Telegraphy RRANGEMENTS have been made. by the Chinese Government, for the establishment of several stations throughout the Empire to experiment with the Marconi system of wireless telegraphy, in the working of which Chinese operators will be instructed. Apparatus has been installed on several Chinese war vessels at Shanghai, and at the northern cities of Peking, Tientsin, and Pao tingfu. Instructions will be given by an Italian officer, who has been appointed for that purpose, and who will also serve as Engineer and superintend the installations. The establishment of other stations besides those mentioned is being contemplated, and viceroys throughout the Empire have been directed to investigate the subject. Mining Mercury PROBABLY the largest exposed de posit of cinnabar, or quicksilver ore, is that forming the mountain from which the town of Black Butte, Oregon, derives its name. There a vein 400 feet wide has been opened for more than a mile along the mountain, at a depth of 1,000 feet below the crest. In Europe the chief mines are at Almaden in Spain, and at Idria in Austria, a town twentyeight miles from Trieste. The process of obtaining the mercury is called distillation. After being crushed, the ore is subjected to intense heat (1,200° F.). When the ore has reached the temperature of 680°, the mercury is driven off in the form of vapor. This vapor is passed into large wooden or brick chambers called "condensers," which are surrounded by water-jackets and other devices designed to reduce the temperature. In these chambers the vapor is condensed, the quicksilver resuming a metallic form, and being deposited in fine globules on the walls and floors. These globules, as they increase in size, merge together, and run out in troughs, ready to be marketed. product is shipped in wrought-iron flasks weighing fourteen pounds each and holding 761⁄2 pounds of the metal, for which the present wholesale price is fifty-three cents a pound. The The Lobster Trade THE Lobster "fishing" business on the Atlantic coast is now enjoying an era of prosperity. Last year's catch was one of the most successful in the history of the industry, and the prospects for the present year are exceptionally fine. This is due, no doubt, to the enforcement of the wise laws recently enacted for the preservation and propagation of this valuable crustacean. Previous to 1898, for some ten years, the continued diminution in the supply of lobsters in Canada gave rise to fears for the ultimate extinction of the industry, but normal conditions have now been restored. The value of the catch in Nova Scotian waters in 1905 was $2,116,000, representing 35,700,000 lobsters. The greater part of the product is shipped to the United States; but Great Britain. France, and other European countries consume a large portion of the output. |