CHAPTER XVII. 



USEFUL FACTS AND FIGURES AND RECIPES. 



CULLED FROM VARIOUS SOURCES BY THE EDITOR. 



How TO MAKE AXLE GREASE. The recipe given here for this 

 purpose is that of " Booth's axle grease." The following are the 

 directions given in the original patent : Dissolve ^ Ib. soda in i gal- 

 lon of water ; add 3 Ibs. of tallow and 6 Ibs. palm oil, (or 10 Ibs. 

 palm oil only) ; heat them together to. 200 or 210 deg. F. ; mix, 

 and keep the mixture constantly stirred till the composition is 

 cooled down to 60 or 70 deg. F. A thinner composition is made 

 with ^lb. soda, i gallon of water, i gallon of rape oil, and J Ib. of tallow 

 or palm oil. Trade '' Secrets" 



BALLS FOR REMOVING GREASE AND PAINT SPOTS FROM CLOTH, 

 ETC. Fuller's earth, 30 parts ; French chalk, i part ; yellow soap, 

 20 parts ; pearlash, 15 parts. Make into a paste with spirits of 

 turpentine, give a slight color with a little yellow ochre, and then 

 cut it into cakes. This form, omitting the French chalk, is that 

 which is so very generally sold about the streets. Trade "Secrets" 



BOOT BLACKING. The following is a formula for a blacking 

 without sulphuric acid : Bone black, 4 oz. ; molasses, 2 oz. ; vine- 

 gar, | pint ; spermaceti oil, a teaspoonful. The bone black must 

 be very finely ground, and the oil is first mixed with it. The 

 molasses are then added, and lastly the vinegar. If the ingredients 

 are of the best quality, this blacking will be found exceedingly 

 good. The addition of oil to the blacking tends to soften and pre- 

 serve the leather, but if too much be added, it increases the diffi- 

 culty of getting a good " shine." The oil chosen should be some 

 cheap, non-drying fat oil. Coarse neatsfoot oil is often used, and 

 would be preferred if it could always be had cheaply. Trade 

 " Secrets." 



BEESWAX, PREPARING. Separate the better part of the comb 

 from the brood portion as much as possible when you are draining 

 the honey. When drained, boil the comb in water, stirring 

 frequently to prevent its burning. When completely melted, 

 strain through bags (hair bags are the best) into a tub of cold 

 water. Repeat this operation twice, or even thrice, and through 

 bags increasing in fineness. Finally, melt the wax by itself, 

 and pour into moulds of desired shape, first wetting them. Cool 

 in a warm room until the cakes solidify. This will prevent their 

 cracking in the middle. Another plan, and more simple, is to 



