The foundation of this cloth is either of flax, or else the foundation of an old Brussels carpet - part flax, part wool. A strong oil-paint is laid smoothly over it in four coats, and the pattern is stamped on it. They are sold by the square yard.

Oil-cloths are also a painted material, but on much finer and thinner canvas. The oil-paint finer, and pattern more delicate. They are used for table-covers; but we object to them, as they destroy the varnish or French polish, under them. They are also used as squares under hipbaths to save the carpet from wet.

Hearth-rugs are made like Axminster carpets, with a foundation of flax, into which tufts of wool are woven, and then cut.

Door-mats are of the like make, unless they are of skins tanned and dried. Hemp door-mats are used for the outer-door, as best suited to take off mud and dust.

We must say a word here about the rag-carpets manufactured by our American cousins. They are thus made: -

Old cloth clothes, as coats, cloaks, etc., are torn into narrow strips; these are joined into one length, and are rolled up in balls. They form the warp; coarse coloured yarn makes the woof. It is sent to a weaver and woven. These carpets are comparatively inexpensive, and last long; but as we have never seen them, we know nothing about their appearance.

Good rugs for bedrooms maybe manufactured at home,by cutting pieces of list from flannel into short lengths and knitting them into a twine foundation. First knit a number of stitches, sufficient for the width you require; on the third row begin to knit in, with every stitch, a piece of narrow and short list. Make it the desired length, line it with any piece of old carpet or drugget to keep it firm. Short pieces of red flannel might be knitted in about four stitches deep at each end of the row if a border be desired. But then the four first rows, and four last, must be of red flannel instead of list. This makes a cheap and comfortable rug.

Carpets are generally made up by the upholsterer, at a charge of threepence on the yard. This includes binding, but the tape will be extra.

A clever woman can make a carpet perfectly well. The great secret is for the patterns to match down each breadth, a little puckering and some contrivance will easily achieve this, and there will be less waste than if an upholsterer's people did it - as they have not patience to contrive and arrange it as it may be done. The moss patterns, which are, after all, the very prettiest and most picturesque of carpets, save the waste of this pattern-matching which, unless care and skill are shown, is excessive. If coarse paper, used for the purpose, is laid over the floor under the carpet, it will last much longer and feel much softer to the tread. Caipets are laid down by means of a stretcher, hammer, and tacks. The first thing to be done in laying down a carpet is to clear the room of furniture, and place the carpet as it is meant to go. Then begin at one corner, and nail down one side of the cut ends of the breadths, not the selvage way. Continue nailing down by the selvage side. The carpet is stretched carefully, so as to be neither too loose nor too much strained. If you are nailing it down yourself, and you have no stretcher, get some one to help you. Let him stretch the carpet with all his strength while you nail it down.

When two sides are nailed down, nail the side opposite to the selvage; and lastly, the fourth side (of cut ends of breadths). Here the greatest stretching is required to get rid of puckers.

A carpet must be well laid down, or it will not wear well; it is best, if it can be afforded, to have it done by experienced people.