Alabaster, although considerably harder than Bath or Cain stone, is worked, like those stones, with toothed saws and steel drags of varying degrees of fineness, first the coarse and then the fine being used. The surface left by the drag is rubbed with coarse sandpaper to remove the marks of the drag, and then with fine sandpaper, all these operations being done in the dry- The surface is next grounded with stone grits and water, as in marble polish in ., but the grits in 1 his case are used flat instead of on edge. The grits mostly employed are seconds and snake (water of Ayr), which are somet tmes pounded up and used on a worsted wad or boss, the seconds grit first, and then the snake. Then mix in equal proportions powdered sulphur ami French chalk, and use on the boss moderately moistened with water, working uniformly over every part, and finally finishing with putty powder (oxide of tin). A Little sweet oil rubbed on afterwards brings out the veins, and render.-the polish brilliant and lasting.

The beginner should practise on waste pieces of alabaster before attempting to polish anything of value.