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THE PHOTOGRAPHIC NEWS. Vol. XXVII. No. 1311.— October 19, 1883. CONTENTS. PAGE Photography and Tricycling 657 The Action of Ammonia in Alkaline Development 658 The Photographic Exhibition 659 Apparatus at Pall Mall 660 The Present Condition of Amateur Photography, and its Pro bable Future. By J. V. Robinson 661 On the Art of Pictorial Composition as applied to Landscape Photography. By C. 661 Reduction of Gelatine Negatives Over-Intensified with Mer cury. By C. 662 PAGE Mr. Burton’s Lecture 668 Notes 664 Patent Intelligence : 66 5 A Few Notes of a Tour from Maine to California. By J. G. Tunny 666 Correspondence 667 Proceedings of Societies 669 Talk in the Studio 671 To Correspondents 672 The Photographic News Registry 672 PHOTOGRAPHY AND IRICYCLING. The voluminous correspondence that has appeared for some weeks past in our columns on this subject sufficiently proves how interesting it is to many photographers. Historically, it is not the first time the camera and ’cycle have been coupled. When Nicephore Niepce and his brother Claude, early in the century, began their co-operative labours, which ended in the invention of camera photo graphy, it was to the contrivance of an improved velocipede that they first directed their attention. A sum of money had been promised, or was popularly supposed to be promised, for solving the problem of perpetual motion, and, like other ingenious minds of the age, the brothers Niepce determined to win the reward. The outcome of their labours was the so-called Pyreolophore, a description of velocipede that was worked by hand and foot; and so sanguine were the partners that a goodly sum could be obtained in a proper market, that Claude started with the invention to England, where, however, he unfortunately died shortly afterwards. He lived, nevertheless, long enough to have sent him by letter a description of his brother’s successful photographic experiments, which were started immediately the pyreolophore was finished. So that it is not unfitting, photography having pretty well arrived at perfection, for the photographer to turn to the ’cycle for help, now this mode of conveyance has been perfected also. A month ago, “ Only an Amateur ” asked for information in our columns on the subject of a con veyance to take him and his photographic outfit on a tour through England, and while he has been in the end enabled to get a suitable machine and start off on his journey, our readers have been presented with ’cycling experiences by competent authorities from every quarter. It is satisfactory to learn how very suitable these machines are to both professional and amateur photo graphers who have work to do at some distance from home. Thus “ Photo-Cyclist,” who speaks “from fifteen years’ experience of bicycles and tricycles,” tells our corres pondent that “ it is quite possible to get a light tricycle to carry his camera—and his own luggage, too—for fifty or more miles a day, if he wishes,” and further adds that he himself has “ only just finished a five weeks’ tour through England, and also in Jersey and portions of Normandy and Brittany.” In fact, he says, “ a photographer, be he ever so old, will never regret getting a tricycle” ; butthen he stipulates “ to be careful not to have wheels less than forty-eight inches in diameter.” “Mine,” says “Photo- Cyclist," “ has fifty-inch wheels, and I would not change it for any machine in the world, as it has served me faith fully over 3,000 miles of road, and is as good as ever. It weighs between sixty and seventy pounds, and recently I have been carrying over two stone of baggage upon it. Mr. John Browning, a well-known name in ’cycling, as in astronomical science, is rather at variance on the sub ject of the wheels. He will have nothing to do with big wheels ; his recommendation to “ Only an Amateur ” is “ to get as small a tricycle as he can—that is, with as small wheels as possible—as he will get a lighter, safer, and stronger machine, and this will prevent him from feeling the small additional weight of the photographic apparatus.” Mr. Browning also recommends photographers to carry the apparatus “ strung underneath the seat, and not behind it." The weight should be far enough from the ground to clear the latter, but still hung as low as possible, as it thus lowers the centre of gravity and steadies the machine. Another point of importance Mr. Browning refers to, which should be especially attended to in long journies— the straps of packages should be secured round the bottom of them, for jolting over rough roads is a severe test for straps that are sewn on. The reader will scarcely be able to make up his mind as to the best kind of machine to purchase from the letters of our correspondents, although it is true several of them are unanimous as to the advantages of one or two of the ’cycles named; the Arion, Challenge, Extraordinary, Apollo, Traveller, Velociinan, Carrier, Back-steerer, Front-steerer, Cheylesmore, Monarch, Otto, Blenhiem, Rudge, Coventry, &c., &c., all seem to have their advocates, so that the only sound plan would appear to be either to try a machine oneself, or to take the opinion of a trustworthy friend of experience. But in respect to the way of packing and carrying one’s photographic equipment, all may well take a hint from our correspondents. The notion to pack in a small and compact basket is decidedly good, for a basket package will often keep its contents from breakage under the vicissitudes of a collision or upset. Others em ploy leather cases, which are less bulky, and no doubt very convenient. Mr. Charles P. Richards, who has ridden a tricycle for a twelvemonth, and speaks favourably of the saving in cost of comveyances which would otherwise have been required to convey his apparatus to its destination, gives a very clear idea as to his mode of packing. He has a Cheylesmore rear-steering machine, and, with a load of apparatus weighing forty-eight pounds, has no difficulty in riding thirty-six miles, exposing six plates upon different views on the road, and arriving home considerably less tired than if he had walked six miles carrying the apparatus himself. To convey his load, Mr. Richards says, “ I have had made an iron tray 15 by 10 inches by 3 inches deep, which screws on the backbone, and is easily removable when not required. A good leather case, containing 10 by 8 camera, three double dark slides, lenses, tripod top screw, and focussing cloth, exactly fits the tray, to which the case is further secured by means of straps on each side. The legs,