236 °* PREYENtlXG THE DECAY OF WOOtf. 



shade as you like. Then lay it on with a brush as hot anil 

 thin as you can. Some days after the first coat is dried, 

 give it a second. It will preserve plank for ages, and 

 keep the weather from driving through brick-work." 

 Page 114. 

 Tried with ap- This composition I tried about eighteen years ago on 

 paren success. g Qmc c j m paffj^ substituting for the colouring matter one 

 or two coats of common white paint for the sake of the 

 appearance. This paling appears to me to be in every 

 part of it, which was so covered, as sound as when it was 

 first put up. 

 Bees wax ad- As compositions of the resinous kind are apt to crack 

 and become powdery, like the varnish of carriages, by ex- 

 posure to weather, it is not improbable, that this effect may 

 be in some measure counteracted by the mixture of a small 

 proportion of bees' wax. Such a compound I have used, 

 but in the quantity of eight ounces to the gallon found it 

 too slow in drying, and capable of being easily scraped oft* 

 with the nail. Wax is also at this time very scarce and 

 dear*. 

 Remarks. All the substances contained in these mixtures are ca- 



pable of perfect incorporation with each other by heat, and 

 v when separately exposed, are with great difficulty acted on 

 by water or air in any heat which occurs in our climate. 

 Method of ap- They should be applied hot with a common painter's brush 

 p ica ioa, ^^ t ^ e wood which is previously very dry, so as to sink 



deeply into its pores ; and though at first they arc appa- 

 rently somewhat greasy when cold, yet after some days 

 they make a firm varnish, which does not come off on rub- 

 bing. Wheu it is required to give beauty to the work, co- 

 louring matters may either be added to the mixture, or af- 

 terward applied over it in form of common paint. Two 



* For the information of those who may be inclined to make a 

 trial of these compositions, I have inquired the wholesale prices of 

 the different ingredients of Messrs. Cave and Co. Bristol, from 

 whore I learn, that they are ,very fluctuating, train oil being from 

 2*. 3d. to 3s. 2d. per gallon ; resin from 12 to 21 shillings per cwt. ; 

 roll brimstone from 34 to 38 shillings per cwt. ; and bees' wax from 

 3s. 3d. to 3s. 6d. per lb. ; the lowest of these prices being about 

 what these articles at present bear. 



coats 



