Page:Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management.djvu/2000

1796 An excellent paste for polishing harness and the leather work of carriages is made by melting 8 Ib. of yellow wax, stirring it till completely dissolved. Into this pour 1 lb. of litharge of the shops, which has been pounded up with water, and dried and sifted through a sieve, leaving the two, when mixed, to simmer on the fire, stirring them continually till all is melted. When it is a little cool, mix this with 1 lb. of good ivory-black; place on the fire, and stir till it boils anew, and then let it cool. When cooled a little, add distilled turpentine till the mixture has the consistence of a thickish paste. Scent with any essence at hand; thin when necessary from time to time by adding distilled turpentine.

Mix 2 ozs. of ivory-black, 4 ozs. of beeswax, ½ an oz. of Prussian blue, and 3 ozs. of spirits of turpentine in a jar, and dissolve them by heat, by placing the jar in a saucepan of hot water.

Put 2 lb. of logwood chips, 3 ozs. of copperas, 3 ozs. of nut-gall, 1 oz. of indigo, a 6d. packet of British ink powder into 2 quarts of water, and let all boil gently for half an hour. This dye will be found very useful for harness which has been for some time neglected and become rusty-looking.

Take 1 drachm of indigo, ¼ of an oz. of isinglass, ½ an oz. of soft soap, 4 ozs. of glue, 1 pennyworth of logwood raspings and 1 quart of vinegar; boil the whole over a slow fire till reduced to 1 pint. A small quantity is then taken up on a piece of clean sponge and thinly applied to previously well cleaned harness, boots, etc.

Melt 4 ozs. of mutton suet with 12 ozs. of beeswax; add 12 ozs. of sugar-candy, 4 ozs. of soft soap dissolved in water, and 2 ozs. of indigo, finely powdered. When melted and well mixed, add a pint of turpentine. Lay the blacking on the harness with a sponge, and polish off with a brush.

When the leather is old and greasy, it should be cleaned, before applying this polish, with a brush wetted in a weak solution of potass and water, washing afterwards with soft river water, and drying thoroughly. If the leather is not black, one or two coats of black ink may be given before applying the polish. When quite dry, the varnish should be laid on with a soft shoe-brush, using also a soft brush to