206 Miscellanies. 



6. Valuable material for walks and alleys. — A soap maker, not 

 knowing what to do with the black sulphurous residuum of his ley- 

 tubs, spread it in a wet state along the alleys of his garden. It soon 

 became stiff and almost impervious to rain ; the alleys were always 

 dry ; no grass or weeds appeared on it, but the plants within a few 

 inches of it all died. He was delighted with this discovery of the 

 means of enjoying clean and dry walks without any trouble, having 

 only to put a covering of clean sand over the refuse. Having occa- 

 sion some time after to repave his yard, he used the soft refuse in- 

 stead of mortar. It soon hardened and cemented the stones so well, 

 that the heaviest carriages occasioned no disadjustment. — Idem. 



7. Stucco for walls. — In Italy, great use is made of a stucco which 

 gives to walls the brilliancy, the cleanliness, and almost the hardness, 

 of marble. It may be variously colored, to suit the taste of the em- 

 ployer. This stucco is made very easily, by mixing lime and pul- 

 verized marble, in nearly equal proportions, according to the meager- 

 ness or richness of the marblfe. A paste or mortar is m&de of this 

 mixture, and applied to the wall in the thickness of a five franc piece, 

 with a trowel wet with soap suds, and in such a way that the who\,e 

 of the wall may be finished in the same day. None but mineral 

 colors should be mixed with the stucco, as the lime would destroy 

 those derived from the vegetable kingdom. To obtain the greatest 

 brilliancy, the mortar should be applied with a cold trowel. Work- 

 men, for the sake of ease and expedition, usually employ it warm. 

 Chips and fragments of marble may be advantageously employed for 

 this purpose. In cases where the appearance of a marbled wall 

 would be objectionable on account of its coldness, any portion of it 

 may be covered with paper. — Idem. 



8. Method of cutting glass vessels uniformly without cracking. — 

 In a great variety of circumstances, it is useful to lessen the capacity 

 of a glass vessel ; or otherwise, to turn to a good purpose a large 

 broken bottle or demijohn. The following method it may be useful 

 to add to others well known. 



Fill the vessel with oil to the place where it is intended to be cut. 

 Immerse a red hot iron into the oil to an inch below this line ; the 

 heat will produce combustion, with evaporation, which will cut the 

 vessel around at the surface of the oil. Otherwise — mark with a 

 file the glass around the place to be divided, dip a string in spirits of 



