A common plan of making the stain and varnish as sold at paint stores for imitation mahogany is strongly to impregnate burnt sienna with Bismarck brown - an aniline dye. The dye readily dissolves in water; the sienna gives it body. One pennyworth of each will make igal. of stain. Spirit varnish varies in quality according to price; 4oz. of orange shellac, 2oz. of resin, and lpt. of methylated spirit will make a fair quality varnish. A red tinge is imparted by adding a small quantity of Bismarck brown.