304 THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN'S COMPANION.— July 22, 1850. 
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fieient to form a base from which five hundred to one. thou¬ 
sand copies, exact to nature, and taken by its aid, could be 
■distributed to any part of the world, even in a letter ; indeed, 
botanical works might be illustrated and embellished in this 
way. 
The effect produced is caused by the decomposition of 
certain chemical substances, acted on by light, the principal 
being nitrate of silver. I may not be out of place in 
mentioning that the juices of some plants have been found 
to darken on exposure to light, also that several of the 
substances used in photography derived from vegetable 
bases, such as iodine, gallic acid, &c. 
I will, with these remarks, proceed to give the methods 
found to answer best. The first impression taken will be 
what photographers call a “ negative,” having the lights and 
shades reversed to what they are in nature, on account of 
the paper being darkened. Wherever the light has the 
greatest effect, the veins of a leaf will be black and the 
tissue white. This is the matrix from which the other im¬ 
pressions are taken, which will be found exact to nature, 
having the lights and shades, or lights and darks, correct. j 
It is necessary that no light intervene between the object 
to be copied and the paper, to avoid which will be required 
a pressure frame (the only apparatus wanted), or a sheet of j 
plate glass, kept down on a board by means of weights, will ! 
answer the purpose; but a pressure frame will be found 
the most convenient, which is in the power of almost any i 
one to construct. All that is required is a frame, about 
eleven inches by seven inches, having a rim of wood glued 
round it, projecting sufficiently to retain a piece of plate 
glass, cut so as to fit nicely into the frame; a board about a 
quarter of an inch thick fitting also into the frame, with two 
pieces of wood crossing the frame, and going into holes cut 
on the opposite side: these are moveable. The mode of 
using it is to place the glass into the frame first; then the j 
leaf or frond to be copied, the prepared paper backed with 
a few sheets of white blotting or bibulous paper ; then the 
board, which will be kept in its place by means of two j 
wedges pressing against the two cross pieces. 
The paper that will be found to answer bestis a moderately 
thick wove letter-paper, having no specks or colouring 
matter in it—for it must be remembered that all imper¬ 
fections are copied; nor must the half-sheet having the 
water-mark on be used for a negative. Either Turner’s or 
Whatman's yellow wove post will answer; these can be ob¬ 
tained at any of our stationers. The chemicals wanted are i 
muriate of ammonia, nitrate of silver in crystals, hyposul- J 
phite of soda, chloride of gold, and chloride of silver. 
First Operation. —Make a solution of muriate of ammonia 
with distilled water, twenty grains to the ounce. Pour about 
five or six ounces of this solution into a flat dish, sufficiently 
large to float the paper, cut to the required size ; allow it to 
float on this for two minutes, taking care to avoid air 
bubbles, and pin each paper up by a corner to dry. 
Second Operation. —Make a solution of nitrate of silver 
with distilled water, sixty grains to the ounce. Tour four ' 
or five ounces into a dish, and allow the paper to float on it 
for about five minutes, then suspend by a corner to dry. 
This operation must be performed by candle-light; if in 
the day-time, it will be necessary to darken the room by ' 
means of a cloth hung against the' window', of sufficient 
thickness to exclude the light. This paper must always be . 
kept from the light. 
Third Operation. —Place the object to be copied with 1 
the paper in the pressure frame (this must be done in a 
darkened room); when the paper and object are properly 
adjusted, place them in the light, the stronger it is the | 
quicker the operation. The time of exposure will be easily | 
determined by a few experiments. 
Fourth Operation. —To colour the picture, that is, to I 
deepen its tones, use clean water 8 ozs., hyposulphite soda 1 
1 j ozs., chloride of gold 5 grs., chloride of silver 30 grs.; 1 
it is not necessary to perform this operation with the 
negative. 
Fifth Operation, which fixes the Picture. —Hyposul- | 
pliite of soda, Jib.; clean water, 8 ozs. Let it remain in | 
this from five minutes to a quarter of an hour, then soak it I 
in clean water for a quarter of an hour, and dry. To print 
from this, substitute the picture for the leaf, or frond, and 1 
conduct the operations over again ; that is, placing the pic- I 
ture on a sheet of paper prepared with the solutions men¬ 
tioned in the first two operations ; attach the papers toge¬ 
ther with a portion of wafer or a little gum, by which means 
the papers can be taken out, the printing watched, and 
stopped when sufficient intenseness is obtained. The above 
processes will be found very' simple; the main thing to be 
observed is cleanliness. 
In conclusion, I may remark that the beautiful art of pho¬ 
tography has been applied of late to the taking representa¬ 
tions of objects seen through the microscope at their magni¬ 
fied size : this will give us an opportunity of studying micro¬ 
scopic botany, and seeing to a greater extent the hand of the 
Almighty in His most minute works. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Silver and Gold Pheasants (./. T. C .).— Under these initials your 
query was answered last week. We inquire for replies of the best 
authorities, and our correspondents must wait for replies from those 
authorities. It is useless for any of us to be impatient. 
LONDON MARKETS.— July 21st. 
COVENT GARDEN. 
The continued favourable weather brings us an abundant supply of 
Fruits and Vegetables , all in excellent condition, the small-seeded fruits 
particularly so, and very reasonable. We have this week had some 
excellent Green Gages from the south of France, all other importations 
having ceased for a time. The first cargo of West India Fines has also 
come to hand, but, having been a considerable length of time on the 
passage, are not in very prime condition; others may shortly be 
expected, Potatoes plentiful. 
FRUIT. 
Apples, kitchen, per 
bushel. 
8 s. to 
12 s. 
,, dessert .... 
12 s. ,, 
20 s. 
Pears, per dozen .... 
is. „ 
3s. 
Peaches, per doz. 
10 s. ,, 
20 s. 
Nectarines, do. 
10 s. „ 
20 s. 
Pine-apples, perlb... 
6 s. ,, 
10 s. 
HothouseGrapes, per lb. 3s. ,, 
6 s. 
Strawberries, per lb. 
3d. „ 
Is. 
Foreign Melons, each 
2 s. ,, 
5s. 
Wall Cherries, per lb. 
Is. to ls.6d. 
Cherries, per lb. 
6 d. ,, 
Is. 
Oranges, per 100 .... 
Seville Oranges, do... 
4s. ,, 
10 s. 
6 s. „ 
12 s. 
Lemons. 
Gs. ,, 
12 s. 
Almonds, per lb. 
2 s. ,, 
—s. 
Nuts, Filberts, per 
lOOlbs. 
50s. ,, 
60s. 
,, Cobs, ditto .. 
80s. ,,1 
[00s. 
,, Barcelona,per 
bushel. 
20 s, ,, 
22 s. 
Nuts, Brazil, ditto.. 
12 s. ,, 
14s. 
Walnuts, per 1000 .. 
Qs. ,, 
12 s. 
Chestnuts, per bushel 
15s. „ 
24s. 
VEGETABLES. 
Cabbages, perdoz. Is.tols. 6 d. 
,, Red,perdoz. 2 s. to 4s, 
Cauliflowers, each.... 9 d. ,, Is. 
Brocoli, per bdlc. 3d. ,, fid. 
Savoys. Is. ,, 2s. 
Greens, per doz. bncli. 4s. ,, 6 s. 
Spinach, per sieve .. — ,, 4s. 
French Peas, per bshl. 6 s. ,, 10s. 
French Beans, per 100 Is. ,, 2s. 
Carrots, per bunch .. 9d. ,, Is. 
Parsnips, per doz. fid.to 9d. 
Beet, per doz. Is. to Is 6 d 
Potatoes, per cwt. .. 3s. to 6 s. 
,, Frame, per lb. 
od. „ 
0 d. 
,, New, per lb .. 
2 d. „ 
4d. 
Onions.Y’ngjper b’ncli. 
,, Old, per bushel 
4d. ,, 
6 d. 
5s. ,, 
7s. 
Turnips, per bunch.. 
&d. » 
Is. 
Leeks, perbunch .... 
Garlic, per lb. 
2 d. „ 
3d. 
fid. ,, 
8 d. 
Horseradish, per 
bundle. Is. 6 d. to 2 s. 6 d. 
Shallots, per lb. 
fid. 
to Is. 
Lettuce,Cos,each .... 
6d. 
,, 8c. 
,, Cabbageperdoz. 2d. 
„ 3d. 
Endive, per score .. Is, 
• fid. 
,, 2s. 
Celery, per bunch.. .. 9d. to 
Radishes, Turnip, per 
ls.6d 
dozen bunches .... 
— to fid. 
Water Cresses, ditto.. 
Small Salad, per 
fid. 
.. 9d. 
punnet.. 
2d. 
,, 3d. 
Artichokes, per lb. 
— 
„ 2d. 
Asparagus, per bdl. 
3s. 
,, 5s. 
Sea-kale, per punnet .. 
— 
fid. 
Rhubarb, per bundle 
3d. 
Cucumbers, each. 
4d. 
„ fid. 
Mushrooms,perpot Is. Od. 
HERBS. 
„ 2s. 
Basil, per bunch .... 
4d. to 6d. 
Marjoram, per bunch 
4,1. 
„ 6d. 
Fennel, per bunch .. 
2d. 
„ 3d. 
Savory, per bunch .. 
2d. 
,, 3d. 
Thyme, per bunch .. 
2d. 
,, 3d. 
Parsley, per bunch .. 
2d. 
>> 3d. 
Mint, per bunch .... 
2d. 
,, 4d. 
Green Mint . 
fid. 
„ 8d. 
POULTRY. 
The decline of the London season has hitherto been almost imper¬ 
ceptible in its influence on the markets ; but another week will make a 
great difference in our quotations. 
Large Fowls 6 s. 6 d. to 7s* Od. each 
Smaller do 4s. Od. to 5s. 6 d. ,, 
Chickens.. 2s. pd. to 4s. Od. ,, 
Geese . 6 s. to 6 s. #d. ,, 
Ducklings 3s. fid. to 4s. Od. ,, 
GuineaFowlOs Od.toOs. Od. ,, 
Plover’s Eggs, in bulk... 
Quails.... Is. 9d. to ?s. Od. each. 
Leverets .. 3s. Od. to 5s. Od. ,, 
Pigeons.lOd. to Is. Od. ,, 
Rabbits.... Is. 6 d. to Os. Od. ,, 
Wild Ditto .. lOd. to Is. Od. ,, 
Dottrell .. Os. od. to Os. od. ,, 
. Os. to Os. Od. 
London : Printed by Hugh Barclay, Winchester Higli-strect, in 
the Parish of Saint Mary Kalcndar ; and Published for the Proprietors 
at The Cottage Gardener Ofeick, No. 20, Paternoster Row, in 
the Parish of Christ Church, City of London.—July 22 , 1856. 
