Papering and painting are best done in cold weather, especially the latter, for the wood absorbs the oil of paint much more than in warm weather; while in cold weather the oil hardens on the outside, making a coat which will protect the wood instead of soaking into it. Never paper a wall over old paper and paste. Always scrape down thoroughly. Old paper can be pot off by damping with saleratus and water. Then go over all the cracks of the wall with plaster of Paris, and, finally, put on a wash of a weak solution of carbolic acid. The best paste is made out of rye-flour, with 2 ozs. glue dissolved in 1 qt. paste; 1/2 oz. powdered borax improves the mixture.