=Polishing Varnish.=—­This is certainly a tedious process, and considered by many a matter of difficulty.  The following is the mode of procedure:  Put two ounces of powdered tripoli into an earthen pot or basin, with water sufficient to cover it; then, with a piece of fine flannel four times doubled, laid over a piece of cork rubber, proceed to polish your varnish, always wetting it well with the tripoli and water.  You will know when the process is complete by wiping a part of the work with a sponge and observing whether there is a fair and even gloss.  Clean off with a bit of mutton suet and fine flour.  Be careful not to rub the work too hard, or longer than is necessary to make the face perfectly smooth and even.  Some workmen polish with rotten-stone, others with putty-powder, and others with common whiting and water; but tripoli, we think, will be found to answer best.

=An American Polish Reviver.=—­Take of olive-oil 1 lb., of rectified oil of amber 1 lb., spirits of turpentine 1 lb., oil of lavender 1 oz., tincture of alkanet-root 1/2 oz.  Saturate a piece of cotton batting with this polish, and apply it to the wood; then, with soft and dry cotton rags, rub well and wipe off dry.  This will make old furniture in private dwellings, or that which has been shop-worn in warerooms, look as well as when first finished.  The articles should be put into a jar or jug, well mixed, and afterwards kept tightly corked.

This is a valuable recipe, and is not known, the writer believes, outside of his practice.

CHAPTER X.

MISCELLANEOUS RECIPES.

=Oil Polish.=—­One quart of cold-drawn linseed-oil to be simmered (not boiled) for ten minutes, and strained through flannel; then add one-eighth part of spirits of turpentine:  to be applied daily with soft linen rags, and rubbed off lightly; each time the oil is applied the surface should be previously washed with cold water, so as to remove any dirt or dust.  This method of polishing is particularly useful for dining-table tops; it will in about six weeks produce a polish so durable as to resist boiling water or hot dishes, and be like a mirror for brilliancy.

=Wax Polish.=—­Eight ounces of beeswax, 2 oz. of resin, and 1/2 oz. of Venetian turpentine, to be melted over a slow fire; the mass, when quite melted, is poured into a sufficiently large stone-ware pot, and while it is still warm 6 oz. of rectified turpentine are stirred in.  After the lapse of twenty-four hours the mass will have assumed the consistency of soft butter, and is ready for use.  A small portion of the polish is taken up with a woollen rag and rubbed over the surface of the work—­at first gently, then more strongly.  When the polish is uniformly laid on, the surface is once more rubbed lightly and quickly with a fresh clean rag to produce a gloss.

=Waterproof French Polish.=—­Take 2 oz. gum benjamin, 1/2 oz. gum sandarach, 1/2 oz. gum anime, 11/2 oz. gum benzoin, and 1 pt. alcohol.  Mix in a closely-stoppered bottle, and put in a warm place till the gums are well dissolved.  Then strain off, and add 1/4 gill of poppy-oil.  Shake well together, and it is ready for use.