6O THE A B C OF PHOTO - MICROGRAPHY 



board cover is laid over it and the develop- 

 ment is started. This generally begins within 

 a minute, proceeding slowly, but regularly, un- 

 til finished. We glance at the plate occasion- 

 ally, holding it up to the light and looking 

 through it for a moment without fear of fog- 

 ging, since the danger of this decreases very 

 rapidly as development advances. This must 

 be carried to a greater extent than with most 

 classes of photographic work, as plucky nega- 

 tives, with good contrasts, are almost always 

 necessary. With hydroquinon as the devel- 

 oper, or a component of it, as we are now 

 using, the plate should appear well darkened 

 on the back, as there is always a considerable 

 loss of density in the fixing bath when this re- 

 agent is used. Whilst talking, the develop- 

 ment has proceeded without halt and now 

 appears to be complete. I, therefore, pour 

 the solution off, and, having no running water 

 in the room, wash the plate very thoroughly 

 in a pail freshly drawn, then place it in the 

 fixing bath for clearing, which I allow ample 

 time for doing completely. It is a great mis- 

 take to remove a negative from the fixing bath 

 too soon. It will not do to trust to its appar- 

 ent fixation; make sure of it by giving it 

 plenty of time, if you desire permanence. At 



