STANDARD RECEIPTS. 47 1 



and keep it in a warm place until the gum is all dissolved, stirring it fre- 

 quently. When cold, add two tea-spoonfuls of the best clear white 

 popp}' oil. Shake all well tcgether and the polish is then ready for use. 

 Keep well stirred while using. 



This preparation is useful for finishing after any of the foregoing re- 

 ceipts; as it adds to the lustre and durability of the polish, and removes 

 any defects left by the latter. It gives the surface a most brilliant ap- 

 pearance. It is used the same as the polishes; but in order to remove 

 dull places the pressure in rubbiug must be increased. 



Olive oil and water, mixed in the palm of the hand, is said to be the 

 best means of polishing pianos and organs. Mix and rub on vigop 

 ously with the hand. 



Frencli Polish. A method largely used in France for imparting 

 to furniture a brilliant and lasting polish is described as follows: a solu- 

 tion is made by beating gum acacia and the whites of two eggs in a 

 mortar until they thoroughly mix, then a half pint each of raw linseed 

 oil and best vinegar are added, together with eight ounces methylated 

 spirits of wine, one ounce hydrochloric acid, and two ounces muriate of 

 antimony. 



To use the French polish properly, only a very small quantity must 

 be used at a time; and it must be applied with a rubber made with a 

 ball of cotton wool covered over with a soft cotton cloth or linen rag. 

 The ball is dipped into the polish, then covered over with the rag, and 

 this dipped into a drop of linseed oil to prevent it sticking to the wood. 

 Use the rubber gently, polishing from a centre in a circular motion. 

 Finish with a drop of spirits of wine on a clean rubber, which will ex- 

 tract the oil. If there is any dif&culty in getting polish to "take," 

 rub the wood over first with a rag moistened with a little linseed or 

 olive oil. 



Re-Varnishing" Furniture. When furniture requires re-varnish- 

 ing, it should first be well washed with strong soda water, which will 

 remove every particle of grease. Then wash with soft water into which 

 a little vinegar, (oxalic acid is better) has been put. Try to neurtralize 

 the soda. 



Wipe dry and coat with a good quality hard-drying varnish. When 

 dry, rub off with a bunch of curled hair, to remove the gloss, and flow 

 on a full coat of cabinet fiinishing varnish. 



To KboniJje Pine. The wood is immersed for forty-eight hours 

 in a hot, saturated solution of alum, and then brushed over several 



