In polishing stalactites and similar stones no false gloss is put on, the surface of the stalactite merely being made smooth. Having decided which part of the stone to polish (it should be the one which will exhibit the formation of the stone), all irregularities are rubbed out on an ordinary flagstone, using silver sand and plenty of water; and when all holes, etc., are well rubbed out, wash and dry the stone. It can then be seen whether the surface is anything like smooth; if not, continue the rubbing. The better this part of the work is done, the easier will be the next steps. When no more can be done with the silver sand, rub the specimen with a piece of second grit-stone, to remove all scratches made by the sand, and then rub with a piece of snakestone or water-of-Ayr stone. The surface should now be perfectly smooth, but minus a gloss or brightness. To impart this, rub it well with a damp piece of an old stocking on which has been sprinkled a few grains of oxalic acid. The surface of the specimen should now have a dull face; to finish, a little putty-powder and a very little salt of sorrel are used in the same way as the acid. Marble polishers use polishing-felt instead of the old stocking.

Marble may be polished in the same way, but some varieties will require spirit of salt to be used with the putty-powder instead of the salt of sorrel.