he only objection to its use that he has discovered is
that it smells strongly, though not unpleasantly, for about a fortnight.
One coat is quite sufficient, and after a few days you may rub the
shelves with an old duster to remove any of the solution that has not yet
been absorbed.

The case should now be put together, the tops (which are in one piece,
the entire width of the case) and lowest shelves being screwed to the
uprights. The other shelves are merely rested on the strips. You will
find that if your floor be level, and you have sawn the bottoms of the
uprights squarely, there will be no necessity to affix the case to the
wall: the weight of the books alone will keep it in position. If the
floor proves uneven, small wedges underneath the uprights will be
sufficient.

You will find it an advantage to cover the shelves and their sides with
green baize. This protects the bindings of the books considerably, and it
is easily stuck on with glue. It has also the advantage of _holding_ the
dust which collects, and with the aid of a small 'vacuum-cleaner' such as
most households possess nowadays, the cases may be cleaned thoroughly
without removing a single shelf.[48] Felt would be better, but it is, of
course, much more expensive. Sir John Cheke, tutor to Edward the Sixth,
that learned man who, says Milton, 'taught Cambridge and King Edward
Greek,' used buckram. 'Among other lacks,' he writes from Cambridge in
1549 to a friend in London, 'I lack painted bucram to lai betweyne bokes
and bordes in mi studi, which I now have trimd. I have need of XXX
yardes. Chuse you the color.' But the buckram of his day was probably a
very different material from the cloth which we are accustomed to
associate with the binding of books. At all events I certainly should not
recommend its use when you trim your studi.

On no account must you paint or varnish your shelves, unless, of course,
you intend to cover them with baize or felt. However good the paint,
however hard the varnish, heavy leather-bound books will adhere to them
in course of time. So that when you come to remove a volume which you
have treasured in its ancient calf, you will find that the leather at the
bottom edges of the boards remains behind with the shelf. Therefore,
unless you intend to line them, let your shelves be stained or sparingly
polished only.

Care must be taken not to place any volume near wet or even damp
'Solignum.' Make sure that it is thoroughly dry