Take 10 pounds of common yellow or rosin soap, such as is purchased here for 4 or 6 cents per pound, 6 pounds sal-soda, 10 gallons soft or rain water; cut the soap into small thin pieces and put the whole over a fire, bring the water nearly to a boiling point and allow it to remain at that temperature until the soap is thoroughly dissolved; it may then be taken off. If the soap made with these ingredients is found to be too strong add cold water until it becomes of the proper consistency and strength.
FURNITURE POLISH.
Take ¼ pound beeswax, separate into shavings, put in a pan and add ½ gallon of spirits of turpentine and 1 pint linseed oil; let it remain for 12 hours, then stir it well with a stick into a liquid; while stirring add ¼ pound shellac varnish and 1 ounce alkinet root. Put this mixture into a gallon jar and stand it before a fire or in an oven for a week, just to keep it warm, shaking it up 3 or 4 times a day, then strain it through a hair sieve or fine flannel. In using pour a tea spoonful on a wad of baize or flannel, and go lightly over the face or other parts of the mahogany furniture, then apply a similar dry wad briskly and in three minutes it will produce a dark brilliant polish, unequalled and of great value. The shellac varnish is made by taking ¼ pound good gum shellac and pouring alcohol enough over to dissolve it, say as much as to cover the shellac.
ESSENCE OF LEMON.
Take 1 pint alcohol, ½ ounce of oil of lemon, color with tincture of tamarisk. To make these essences for family use you should take 95 per cent. alcohol and the quantity of oil named in the receipt, which will save you three hundred per cent. paying you for your labor. If you wish to make a pint, get a glass bottle that will hold a little more than a pint and put your alcohol and oil in, shake and mix them well, then color to suit.
To make 1 gallon of the essences for sale, take 1 gallon of common alcohol and 2 ounces of the oil—color as in the others.
ESSENCE OF PEPPERMINT.
Take 1 pint alcohol, ½ ounce of oil of peppermint, and if you wish it colored add in small quantities the tincture of tamarisk, stirring it, until you have the color to suit your taste. This is excellent for cramp colic in man or horse.