drying ingredients, as the
nature of the work, the season, or the climate requires; and in some
cases, bees' wax may be substituted in place of oil: all the absorbent
and solid materials must be kiln-dried. If the composition is to be of
any other colour than white, the lead may be omitted, by taking the full
proportion of the other absorbents; and also white or red lead may be
substituted alone, instead of any other absorbent material. The first
coat of this composition is to be laid on with a trowel, and floated to
an even surface with a rule or darby, (i. e. a handle-float.) The second
coat, after it is laid on with a trowel, when the other is nearly dry,
should be worked down and smoothed with floats edged with horn, or any
hard smooth substance that does not stain. It may be proper, previously
to laying on the composition, to moisten the surface on which it is to
be laid by a brush with the same sort of oil and ingredients which pass
through the levigating machine, reduced to a more liquid state, in order
to make the composition adhere the better. This composition admits of
being modelled or cast in moulds, in the same manner as plasterers or
statuaries model or cast their stucco work. It also admits of being
painted upon, and adorned with landscape, or ornamental, or
figure-painting, as well as plain painting.--To make an excellent
stucco, which will adhere to wood work, take a bushel of the best stone
lime, a pound of yellow ochre, and a quarter of a pound of brown umber,
all in fine powder. Mix them to a proper thickness, with a sufficient
quantity of hot water, but not boiling, and lay it on with a new
white-washer's brush. If the wall be quite smooth, one or two coats will
do; but each must be dry before the next is put on. The month of March
is the best season for doing this.

STUCCO WASHES. The most beautiful white-wash is made of clean good lime
mixed with skim milk instead of water. For Blue wash, put four pounds
of blue vitriol into an iron or brass pot, with a pound of the best
whiting, and a gallon of water. Let it boil an hour, stirring it all the
time. Then pour it into an earthen pan, and set it by for a day or two
till the colour is settled. Pour off the water, and mix the colour with
the white-washer's size. Wash the walls over three or four times,
according as it may be necessary. To make Yellow wash, dissolve in soft
water over the fire equal quantities of umber, bright ochre, and blue
black.