Shingles Superseded

Have your roof stiff, rafters made of stuff 1½ by 8 inches, well supported and 6 feet apart, with ribs 1 inch by 2 inches, set edgeways, well nailed to the rafters, about 18 inches apart. The boards may be thin, but must be well seasoned, and nailed close together; this done, lay down and cover the roof with thin, soft, spongy straw paper used in making paper-boxes, which comes in rolls, and comes very low. Lay in course up and down the roof, and lap over, nailing down with common No. 6 tacks, with leather under the heads like carpet-tacks. Then spread on several coatings of the following composition, previously boiled, stirred, and mixed together: good Clean tar, 8 gals.; Human cement, 2 gals. (or in its place very line, clean sand may be used;) resin, 5 lbs.; tallow, 3 lbs.; apply hot; and let a hand follow, and shift on sharp grit sand, pressing it into the tar composition. If wished fire-proof, go over the above with the following preparation: Slake stone lime under cover with hot water till it falls into a fine powder; sift and mix 6 qts. of this with 1 qt. salt, add 2 gals. water, boil and skim. To 5 gals. of this add 1 lb. alum, and 1½ lbs. of copperas, and slowly, while boiling, 1½ lbs. potash, and 4 qts. of clean, sharp sand, and any coloring desired. Apply a thick coat with a brush, and you may have a roof which no fire can injure from the outside.

Water Lime At Fifty Cents Per Barrel

Fine, clean sand, 100 lbs.; quick lime in powder, 28 lbs.; bone-ashes, 14 lbs.; for use, beat up with water, and use as quick as possible.