ier, and another over it; a second tier
is laid over this, protected by a lath, the head of the second
being laid to the bottom of the first; over this another bed of
sawdust is laid, not too thick, another lath; and so on till the
binn is filled.

2170. Wine so laid in will be ready for use according to its
quality and age. Port wine, old in the wood, will be ready to
drink in five or six months; but if it is a fruity wine, it will
improve every year. Sherry, if of good quality, will be fit to
drink as soon as the "sickness" (as its first condition after
bottling is called) ceases, and will also improve; but the
cellar must be kept at a perfectly steady temperature, neither
too hot nor too cold, but about 55 deg. or 60 deg., and absolutely free
from draughts of cold air.

DUTIES OF THE FOOTMAN.

2171. Where a single footman, or odd man, is the only male servant,
then, whatever his ostensible position, he is required to make himself
generally useful. He has to clean the knives and shoes, the furniture,
the plate; answer the visitors who call, the drawing-room and parlour
bells; and do all the errands. His life is no sinecure; and a methodical
arrangement of his time will be necessary, in order to perform his many
duties with any satisfaction to himself or his master.

2172. The footman only finds himself in stockings, shoes, and
washing. Where silk stockings, or other extra articles of linen
are worn, they are found by the family, as well as his livery, a
working dress, consisting of a pair of overalls, a waistcoat, a
fustian jacket, with a white or jean one for times when he is
liable to be called to answer the door or wait at breakfast;
and, on quitting his service, he is expected to leave behind him
any livery had within six months.

2173. The footman is expected to rise early, in order to get through all
his dirty work before the family are stirring. Boots and shoes, and
knives and forks, should be cleaned, lamps in use trimmed, his master's
clothes brushed, the furniture rubbed over; so that he may put aside his
working dress, tidy himself, and appear in a clean jean jacket to lay
the cloth and prepare breakfast for the family.

2174. We need hardly dwell on the boot-cleaning process: three
good brushes and good blacking must be provided; one of the
brushes hard, to brush off the mud; the other soft, to lay on