108 FAEM BUILDINGS IN SOUTH AFEICA 



The work may be finished by a coat of whitewash, or of boiled 

 linseed oil, applied when the plaster has become dry. 



If a coat of whitewash is to be applied, it is a good plan to prepare 

 the surface of the plaster to receive it as follows : — 



Make a mixture either of cow- dung and water, or of old beer and 

 water, and brush it over the surface of the wall. When this is dry apply 

 the whitewash in the usual way. In this case less salt should be mixed 

 with the whitewash than stated in next paragraph, at least with that 

 whitewash which is to be used for the first coat. 



Whitewashing 



Whitewash. — A good whitewash for general purposes may be prepared 



as follows : — 



Add sufficient water to a paraffin-tinful (4£ gallons) of white lime 

 (slaked) to give it the consistency of cream. 



Dissolve about half a teacupful of salt in water and add it to the lime. 



Stir the mixture well and let it stand for a day, then strain it through 

 a very fine sieve. 



The salt has the effect of hardening the whitewash as it dries, and 

 tends to prevent its scaling or rubbing off. 



Sometimes alum is used instead of salt. 



If the slaked lime be mixed in skim milk (instead of in water), 

 neither salt nor alum is necessary. 



Recipe for Whitewash used by the U.S.A. Government. — Take half a 

 bushel of unslaked lime and slake it with boiling water ; cover it during 

 the process to keep in the steam. 



Strain the liquid through a fine sieve and, while hot, stir in the 

 following ingredients : — one peck salt previously dissolved in warm water, 

 three pints ground rice boiled to a thin paste. Add five gallons of hot 

 water to the mixture, stir well, and let stand for a few days covered as 

 nearly air-tight as possible. 



The mixture can be coloured by adding ochre, lamp-black, ground 

 keel, or blueing to suit. 



Special Whitewash for Dwelling-houses and Dairies.— Take about 

 f of a 4J gallon paraffin-tinful of white lime (slaked) or best whiting 

 (ground chalk). Add clean water to cover the lime or whiting, and let 

 it stand for about half an hour. 



