A recipe for a combined ebony stain and varnish is the following. Take 4oz. of shellac, 1/2 oz. of mastic, 1/2 oz. of oil of turpentine. 4oz. of gum sandarach, loz. of Venice turpentine, 10 gr. of camphor, 20 oz. of methylated spirit, and 1/4 oz. of spirit black (aniline dye). Crush the gums, and put all together in a clean bottle; keep tightly corked, and well agitate till dissolved. Carefully strain, and apply with a camel-hair brush, and set aside in a hot room. Several coats may be given at intervals of half an hour. A harder finish may be gained by the aid of a japanner's stove, for which purpose it is best to buy the varnish ready prepared, as it has an oil varnish basis. A temperature of about:300 F. causes it to liquefy, settle into inequalities, and as the spirit flies off gives a hard, vitrous surface, which on the best class goods is afterwards smoothed down with finest-grade pumice powder, and the final brightness imparted with rottenstone and the hand.