Page:Australian enquiry book of household and general information.djvu/208

 The most effective lining for a slab hut is cretonne or chintz, fastened to the walls with small brass headed nails. Many of the rooms, even though built of sawn stuff, would be improved by a pretty lining. One room I saw done was most effective, having the appearance of a padded room; round the top the cretonne was gathered on to a hoop held up in some invisible way. In many parts of the colonies where wall paper is used it encourages or harbours cockroaches, silverfish, &c., &c.

One of the prettiest decorations for a room is with paint and brown stain, the latter being extended a few feet up the wall, and above it some pale tint in paint. Floors also look well if nicely stained and polished; they can be done in two shades if preferred, a centre square in light, the outer in very dark. In such climates as Queensland and some parts of New South Wales, stained floors are preferable on account of their being so cool. Many people imagine that a lady cannot stain and polish a room herself. That it requires a man's strength this is not true. A persevering, energetic woman can and will do almost everything a man can, and in decorating a room a woman is thoroughly in her element.

To Measure Timber.—Multiply the length in feet by the width in inches, and divide by 12. When of varying width find the average width by taking half-sum of end widths and proceed as before. For instance, a piece of timber 16ft. long and 10in. wide at one end and 26in. wide at the other would have 10 and 26 are 36, one-half is 18in. average width, multiplied by 16 and divided by 12 equals 24ft.

A Good Bush Paint.—Dissolve 8 lbs. of glue in boiling water, and in this slake 1 bushel of quick lime until it becomes of the consistency of paint. Apply three coats of this with a paint or whitewash brush, being careful that each coat is dry before applying the next; over the third dust clean sand or stone dust from an ordinary flour dredger. This is a most excellent preservative for weather-boards, and really looks as well as paint. It may be made green by mixing in common washing blue and yellow ochre, and applying hot. By mixing ochre with the wash any tint desired may be obtained.

Cheap Paint for Fences.—Melt 81b. of glue in boiling water, and with it slake one bushel of quick lime until it is the right consistence. To make it green, mix common washing blue and yellow ochre with it. Apply very hot, and in three coats, taking care to let one dry before the other is applied. This is very good for lattice work outside of summer-houses, etc.

A Good Whitewash for Farm Buildings.—Slake some lime in a solution of salt and water, and thin to the required consistency with skim milk from which every particle of cream has been taken. This is an excellent wash for a barn or hay roof, as it renders the wood incombustible and is also a preservative. Shingles are the better for a coating of it.

A Good Colour Wash for Out-buildings.—To make a good-sized barrel of wash, take half a bushel of lime, 16lbs. of hydraulic cement,