The times., 1899-06-18
Land PRODUCTS OF
AMERICA IN PARIS
Novel Displays From the Ag-
ricultural department.
kinetoseope Shows Of Western
World Crops and Plants.
Exhibitions From the sproutins 10
the Perfection of Various Prod
ucts-Growth Of Animal Life.

not only instructive but unique and inter
esting. the officials OF the department who
have charge of gathering together tho
specimens to be displayed are. under his
Instructions. constantly on the lockout for
ingenious devices which will not only
demonstrate the methods OF producing
American results but which in themselves
will be sufficiently original and clever
to catch and hold the eye OF the foreigner.
The American exhibit will include speci-
mems Of every product grown on Ameri-
can soil. The grains. grasses. vegetables,
and smaller plants will be displayed in
their entirety, as will the smaller agri-
ucltural implements. But in consequence
of the comparatively small floor space al
lotted to the United States. it will not be
practical to send a detail display OF many
Of the industries pursued in this country.
For instance, to demonstrate the extent
OF tobacco cultivation. in America. or to
have forestry exhibit showing the va
riety and extent of the great trees grown
in one section OF the United States. would
consume all of the room to be devoted to
the agricultural exhibit
In these cases where il is impossible TO
have ull-hedged tobacco plantation in
active operation or a ten acre forest con-
tanning all specimens of trees. and it
would require this much ground to in-
elude them all, the display will be madc
by photographs and samples The Secre-
tary of Agriculture appreciates that great
folics of pictures will have very little in
terest for the visitor at the Exposition
where practically every thing on earth
movable Will be on exhibition. In order
to induce the foreign sightseer to become
interested in this branch of the display
the department contemplates using a very
novel invention and one recently patent
ed by a Washington man. The idea is
somewhat like that of the kinetoseope. but
is designed especially TO show the growth
OF plants. For example, the contriyance Is
set up in front of growing stalk OF corn,
just after it has begun to sprout and by
an automatic attachment the camera will
take a picture of the progress OF the
plant every hour for six months. Subse-
quently the film ribbon on which these
pictures are recorded will be put in 4
kinetoscope Of the ordinary sort and the
pictures thrown on a screen with sufficient
rapidity 10 give the spectators in FIVE
minutes a full representation OF the
plant, showing it at its different stages.
coming out Of the earth, putting forth
leaves, developing tassel and silk, the
gradual decay.
The device was patented by E. Francis
jenkins. and it is believed can be so eEa-
ployed as to have great educational value
While the department has not yet
completed the arrangements for securing
the contrivance 1t viii in all probability do
so in the near future, in order that the
American collectors for the exhibit may
have an opportunity for securing the de-
sired pictures. In order to get a series
OF perfect negatives it will be necessary
to take some precautions against the
movement Of the plant cut Of focus be-
cause OF strong winds or other natural
reasons. In order. also, to take a series
of pictures of the various plants which have
already started their growth and are well
on the way TO development, it will be
necessary to cultivate the various vari-
eties by artificial methods. This work will
be done in the Government green houses,
where the temperature will be regulated
to the seasons. There are almost indefinite
possibilities for the utilization of this ma
chine. One can easily imagine it applied
to the growth of any kind OF plant The
device does not confine its possibilities to
single object, but by stationing the
camera in an open space and attaching to
II wire it will take the photograph OF a
field or forest every two hours from the
beginning TO the end OF the year. The re-
suit will be a series of pictures showing
the succeeding phenomena Of the four sea-
sons.
Beginning with the year the ground
would be covered with snow, which would
gradually disappear and give away to the
first vegetation. The trees would put forth
their leaves and grass and flowers develop.
The picture OF summer, in all its beauty.
would come and go to pass into 4 scene
of autumn with the magnifcence of the
leaves and plants as they assume their
various coloring before death and decay.
Then fall again and snow. All this in a
very few moments with the pictures so
correspondingly close that the trees and
plants will appear to grow before the eye.
Mr.. Jenkins has already made several pic
lures of plants and trees, which have
proven very successful. One OF the most
interesting photographs represents an apple
tree, which is seen in a few twinkiings to
display its new foliage. put forth buds. and
blossoms. and ripeu its fruit Equally
notable is a picture Of a unfower. snap
shots having been taken Of it from sunrise
to sunset of day. When the pictures are
thrown upon n screen with sufficient
rapidity. the flower is seen to turn it's
head steadily, always keeping its face to-
ward the sun. Another picture is that OF
a. watermelon. which. in three minutes
from the time the first sprout appears
gradually develop before the eye.
Mr.. jenkins does not intend TO confine
the uses of his instrument TO exhibition
purposes. but claim that il will be OF
material aid 10 scientists, For instance.
the transformation OF 4 caterpillar into a
moth or a tadpole into a frog could be
shown in a few moments. In the same
manner the slow performance OF a snake
in shedding its skin might be exhibited.
With a microscopic appliance attached to
the camera it would be possible to study
on a great scale the growth and propaga-
tion of bacteria. the flow OF blood in the
arteries OF a small animal. and any number
OF other phenomena suitable for the puT-
pose. The possibilities of the instrument
are not confined to registering pictures
slowly and transmitting them with rapid
ity But the reverse can also be accom-
plished. Mr.. jenkins aspires through his
device 10 solve the problem OF aerial nav
igation. by making a study OF the methods
OF the bird and bees in flying AT present
comparatively little is Known on this sub
iect because insects in general Zap their
wings SO rapidly that no observer gets
any notion OF the mechanical details of the
performance. For example, II is aitOgeth-
er out of the question to follow with the
eye the movements of the wings OF a bee
which it is estimated yibrate at the rate
of 1000 or more to the minute. How
ever. the machine. ii is believed, will re-
cord the almost ineonceiyably rapid beats
of these wings and. reduced by the ap
paratus to one-twentieth OF the rate Of
speed they will exhibit the manner in
which the flying apparatus are utilized
Pleased With Himself.
saw a little, wiggling worm,
Uncertain what to do.
Who simply squirued his little squirn.
I-r.aiI IL 1ln, VIZ tl.rnIl..h