420 HARNESS. 



pentine may from time to time be added, as may become 

 necessary. 



Application. — If the leather is old and stiff, or covered 

 with gum, wash it with a brush with weak potash- water 

 or soap, and then with pure spring- water ; leave it to dry, 

 and then blacken it with ink. "When that is well absorbed, 

 wipe it with a cloth, and then grease it abundantly with 

 fish oi] of good quality, (neat's-foot oil is probably prefer- 

 able.) When the grease has been thoroughly imbibed, 

 pass over it a sponge moistened with spirits of turpentine, 

 to remove the grease from the surface ; then give it, with 

 a shoe-brush, a layer of the above preparation ; finish by 

 polishing with a soft and dry brush. 



This process will restore the leather to a soft, pliable 

 condition, and give it a beautiful appearance. 



Cleaning Plate. — If the plated portions of the harness 

 become tarnished, they may be cleaned by rubbing first 

 with whiting and water, and tlien with whiting alone. 

 Poli.shed steel mountings should be kept clean and imper- 

 ceptibly oiled, by the use of a cloth which contains only a 

 suspicion of sweet oil. Use no acids in cleaning the plate, 

 as it will soon dentroy the coating. 



