4 THE PLANT WORLD. 



Red flowers are difficult to photograph and require an increase in 

 exposure, and with this color the tissue paper should be removed 

 from the front of the screen. Having obtained a satisfactory 

 negative, save the specimen for coloring the finished print. If one 

 can develop successfully a portrait or landscape negative, there 

 should be no trouble in getting a satisfactory flower negative. 

 In printing, while it is important to bring out all detail, do not 

 overprint, as the lighter the print, the more brilliant the colors. 

 The size of the frame and the relative size of the image to the 

 natural size of the flower, is of course arbitrary. I use an 8x lo 

 frame and so adjust the camera and screen on the sliding rod as 

 to take in an 8 inch spray on a 4x5 negative. This position of 

 camera and screen is marked on the sliding rod, and the same ad- 

 justment is used for all work, whether the spray be 8 inches or 

 smaller, thus maintaining the same relative proportions. The 

 4x5 negative is enlarged on 6^ x 8-i bromide or art cyko paper 

 which gives the natural size of the flower. For scientific pur- 

 poses and for illustration a 4 x 5 print with the image of the 

 flower, one half natural size, will be found very satisfactory. 



Having obtained a print of the specimen, by all means color it, 

 for color is the principal beauty, as well as one of the most dis- 

 tinguishing characteristics of a flower, and no black and white 

 photograph, however well done, can convey to the mind the charm 

 and loveliness of the natural blossom. It does not require an 

 artist nor a special course of instruction to do this work, for the 

 camera does the drawing and the shading, and all one has to do 

 is to match colors ; in fact it is tinting rather than painting. 

 Bromide paper is more easily tinted with the Acme transparent 

 water colors, but \\'insor and Xewton's moist water colors can 

 be used by moistening the print with saliva or the juice of a raw 

 potato. Platinum and art cyko papers are the best for painting. 

 A little practice will enable the amateur colorist to produce a 

 photograph that will only lack fragrance to rival the original 

 blossom. 



The chief advantages in this method of flower photography 

 are : (T ) The screen furnishes a portable studio in which the 

 lighting is excellent and the necessary exposure short. (2) For 



