153 



can tell whether it is necessary to do so, by the color of 

 the drippings. If the lye is a good amber-color it is all 

 right ; if it is pale, it needs more ashes. Good lye 

 should be strong enough to bear up a potatoe or an egg. 



You must try this as you proceed. 



To make a barrel of soap, you must have the lye 

 from five or six bushels of ashes, and four quarts of un- 

 slacked lime ; eight quarts if it be slacked. 



The next step is to put the lime into two pails of boil, 

 ing water, throw it into the barrel of ashes and let it 

 drain through. 



Then take three pounds of grease to each pailful of 

 lye put all these into a large kettle to boil. Let them 

 boil together until they become thick and ropy, which 

 makes the soap. A small bit of lime thrown in while 

 the boiling is going on, is of use. 



The above soap can be made without the trouble of 

 boiling, although it takes a longer time. The mode is 

 this : 



Prepare the lye as in the above plan. Fry out the 

 grease, and strain it from the scraps. Take two pounds 

 of this tried grease to each pailful of lye, and mix it with 

 the lye, the latter being heated. 



Then let it stand in the sun, and stir it thoroughly 

 every day, and soap will come in a few days. If it do 

 not look like soap in five or six days, add a little hot lye 

 to it ; if it does not " come," then add a little grease. 



TO MAKE CHEAP CANDLES. 



Save all the beef and mutton tallow you can. Try 

 it out from time to time as you can get it, and make it 

 into little cakes for preservation. When you wish to 

 make your candles, melt your tallow and put it into some 

 vessel with a wide mouth ; a large-sized iron pot is a 



