ABOUT FKUITS, FLOWERS AND FARMING. 189 



" Composition to lay on a hoarded building^ to resist the 

 weather and likewise fire. — Take one measure of fine sand, 

 two measures of wood-ashes well sifted, three of slaked 

 lime ground up with oil, and mix them together ; lay this 

 on with a brush, the first coat thin, the second thick. This 

 adheres so strongly to the boards covered with it, that it 

 resists an iron tool, and the action of fire, and is impene- 

 trable by water." 



" A flexible paint for canvas is made by stirring into 

 fifty-six pounds of common oil paint a solution of soap lye, 

 made of half a pound of soap and three pounds of water : it 

 must be used while warm." 



" A black coloring for garden walls may be made by 

 mixing quicklime, lampblack," a little copperas, and hot 

 water." 



GARDEN WEEDS. 



After hot weather sets in many are naturally inclined to 

 relax their garden labors ; they have eaten their salads, 

 their radishes and peas ; their beans and com require but 

 little attention, and as for the rest, it is left to the company 

 of weeds. 



Weeds. — If the garden be thoroughly hoed twice or 

 three times, the labor of keepiflg dowoi weeds the rest of the 

 summer will be small. It is best to go over a compartment 

 first with the hoe, to cut off weeds and loosen the soil, then 

 with a rake go over it again, levelling and smoothing the 

 surface, and collecting the weeds into heaps, which should 

 be wheeled to the manure-corner and left to decay. In 

 raking, tread backward so that your tracks will be covered 

 by the rake, and the bed left even. 



Among the most vexatious weeds may be mentioned the 

 purslain {Portidacca oleracea), commonly called pussly. 

 It comes in May and lasts through the summer. One plant 



