408 HOME LIFE IN FLORIDA. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 



HELPFUL HINTS. 



And now, in conclusion, let us point out some of the 

 practical ways of making the best of whatever means and 

 surroundings the Florida settler may possess. 



Taking it for granted, as is usually the case, that money 

 is not plentiful, it behooves the settler to help himself 

 without the expenditure of money, so far as it is possible. 



With a little skill and knowledge many things can be 

 done and made at home, that are usually either dispensed 

 with or obtained by hired labor which can be ill-afforded. 



First of all, let us see how the expense of hiring a painter 

 can be avoided. In " Shoj^pell's Modern Houses" — a quar- 

 terly magazine devoted to views and building plans for mod- 

 ern dwellings, and of great value to intending builders, 

 published by the Co-operative Building-plan Association, 

 191 Broadway, New York, at $1 a volume — we find the 

 following common-sense directions for 



THE AMATEUR HOUSE PAINTER. 



"For one who wishes to do his own painting, the best 

 plan in most cases is to buy ready mixed paints, of which 

 there are a number of good brands in the market ; he can 

 select his colors from the sample cards furnished, or order 

 them as specified by the architects. In this way he obtains 

 the colors desired and avoids the difficulties of mixing. 



"If he prefers to mix the colors, thereby effecting a 

 saving of money, he can have the pigments ground to the 

 desired tints, then by adding the oil (raw linseed is the 

 best) bring the paints to the proper consistency for using. 



"White lead is good to lighten any color, and also makes 

 the best body for white paint and some other colors. 



