eceipt used for the President's house, at Washington, improved by
further experiments. The second, is a cheaper one, which the writer has
known to succeed, in a variety of cases, lasting as long, and looking as
well, as white oil-paint.

_Receipt._

Take half a bushel of unslacked lime, and slack it with boiling water,
covering it, during the process. Strain it, and add a peck of salt,
dissolved in warm water; three pounds of ground rice, boiled to a thin
paste, put in boiling hot; half a pound of powdered Spanish whiting; and
a pound of clear glue, dissolved in warm water. Mix, and let it stand
several days. Heat it in a kettle, on a portable furnace, and apply it
as hot as possible, with a painter's or whitewash-brush.

_Another._

Make whitewash, in the usual way, except that the water used should be
hot, and nearly saturated with salt. Then stir in four handfuls of fine
sand, to make it thick like cream. Coloring matter can be added to
both, making a light stone-color, a cream-color, or a light buff, which
are most suitable for buildings.

FOOTNOTES:

[R] Many houses are now heated, by a furnace in the cellar, which
receives pure air from out of doors, heats it, and sends it into several
rooms, while water is evaporated to prevent the air from becoming dry.
The most perfect one the writer has seen, is constructed by Mr. Fowler,
of Hartford. This method secures well-ventilated rooms, and is very
economical, where several rooms are to be warmed.

[S] Those, who are amateurs in architecture, in judging of these
designs, must take into consideration, that this is a work on domestic
_economy_, and that matters of taste, have necessarily been made
subordinate to points, involving economy of health, comfort, and
expense. Still, it is believed, that good taste has been essentially
preserved, in most of these designs.

CHAPTER XXV.

ON FIRES AND LIGHTS.

A shallow fireplace saves wood, and gives out more heat than a deeper
one. A false back, of brick, may be put up in a deep fireplace. Hooks,
for holding up the shovel and tongs, a hearth-brush and bellows, and
brass knobs to hang them on, should be furnished to every fireplace. An
iron bar, across the andirons, aids in keeping the fire safe, and in
good order. Steel furniture is more genteel, and more easily kept in
order, than that made of brass.

Use green wood, for logs, and mix green and dry wood for the fire; and
then the woodpile will last