Kalsomine and Whitewash.. The following receipts include the methods of preparing and applying white and other coatings on walls, etc., as well as the preparatory treatment of the surface to which they are to be applied, and other useful information.

2794. To Prepare Kalsomine

2794.    To Prepare Kalsomine. Kalsomine is composed of zinc white mixed with water and glue sizing. The surface to which it is applied must be clean and smooth. For ceilings, mix i pound glue with 15 pounds zinc; for walls, 1 pound glue with 15 pounds zinc. The glue, tho night before its use, should be soaked in water/and in the morning liquefied on the fire. It is difficult to prepare or apply kalsomine; few painters can do so successfully. Paris white is often made use of for it, but it is not the genuine article. (See next receipt.) The kalsomining mixture may be colored to almost any required tint by mixing appropriate coloring matter with it.

2795. To Kalsomine Walls

2795.    To Kalsomine Walls. In case the wall of a large room, say 18 by 20 feet square, is to be kalsomined with two coats, it will require about 1/4 pound light-colored glue and 5 or 6 pounds Paris white. (See last receipt.) Soak the glue over night, in a tin vessel containing about a quart of warm water. If the kalsomine is to be applied the next day, add a pint more of clean water to the glue, and set the tin vessel containing the glue into a kettle of boiling water over the fire, and continue to stir the glue until it is well dissolved and quite thin. If the glue pail bo placed in a kettle of boiling water, the glue will not be scorched. Then, after putting the Paris white into a largo water pail, pour on hot water, and stir it until the liquid appears like thick milk. Now mingle the glue liquid with the whiting, stir it thoroughly, and apply it to the wall with a whitewash-brush, or with a largo paintbrush. It is of little consequence what kind of an instrument is employed in laying on the kalsomine, provided the liquid is spread smoothly. Expensive brushes, made expressly for kalsomining, may bo obtained at brush factories, and at some drug and hardware stores. But a good whitewash-brush, having long and thick hair, will do very well. In case the liquid is so thick that it will not flow from the brush so as to make smooth work, add a little more hot water. When applying the kalsomine, stir it frequently. Dip the brush often, and only so deep in the liquid as to take as much as the hair will retain without letting large drops fall to the floor If too much glue be added, the kalsomine cannot be laid on smoothly, and will be liable to crack. The aim should be to apply a thin layer of sizing that cannot be brushed off with a broom or dry cloth. A thin coat will not crack.

2796. Whitewash for Out-Door Use

2796.    Whitewash for Out-Door Use. Take a clean water-tight barrel, or other suitable cask, and put into it 1/2 bushel lime. Slack it by pouring boiling water over it, and in sufficient quantity to cover 5 inches deep, stirring it briskly till thoroughly slacked. When slacking has been effected, dissolve in water and add 2 pounds sulphate of zinc and 1 of common salt. These will cause the wash to harden and prevent it from cracking, which gives an unseemly appearance to the work. If desirable, a beautiful cream color may be communicated to the above wash, by adding 3 pounds yellow ochre. This wash may be applied with a common whitewash-brush, and will be found much superior, both in appearance and durability, to common whitewash.