CAMERA AND PHOTOGRAPHIC APPLIANCES 39 



moisture and lay on the plate, smoothing it 

 out at the same time. Now place the damp- 

 ened blotter on top, pressing it down all over, 

 with the hand first and a soft dry towel as a 

 finish, holding the plate all the while by its 

 edges, between thumb and fingers, and not 

 allowing the hand to come in contact with the 

 film surface. If your plate holder opens at 

 the back, as with the E. R. & C. camera, or 

 is of the English book form, it remains only 

 to lay the plate in place and close the holder. 

 If of any other pattern, you may experience 

 some difficulty in employing this method of 

 backing; and there are some to which it is 

 quite inapplicable. Every one attempting it 

 must ascertain that by trial. In all cases where 

 it can be used, nothing is more satisfactory. 

 It is not an absolutely perfect backing. With 

 the utmost care there will probably be some 

 little spots where a thin stratum of air between 

 paper and glass prevent absolute optical con- 

 tact. But in actual practice, I have found it 

 quite equal to the most approved methods, in 

 results. It is well to note, that the plate should 

 be backed and placed in the holder, after all 

 preliminary operations with microscope and 

 camera are completed ready for the exposure, 

 which must be made whilst the paper is still wet. 



