The simplest, and perhaps the best, is the solution of shellac only, but many add gums sandarach, mastic, copal, arabic, benjamin, etc., from the idea that they contribute to the effect. Gum arabic is certainly never required if the solvent be pure, because it is insoluble in either rectified spirit or rectified wood naphtha, the menstrua employed in dissolving the gums. As spirit is seldom used on account of its expense, most of the following are mentioned as solutions in naphtha, but spirit can be substituted when thought proper.

1. Shellac one and a half pounds, naphtha one gallon; dissolve, and it is ready without filtering. 2. Shellac twelve ounces, copal three ounces, (or an equivalent of varnish); dissolve in one gallon of naphtha. 3. Shellac one and a half pounds, seed-lac and sand-arach each founr ounces, mastic two ounces, rectified spirit one gallon; dissolve. 4. Shellac two pounds, benzoin four ounces, spirit one gallon. 5. Shellac ten ounces, seed-lac, sandarach, and copal varnish of each, six ounces, benzoin three ounces, naphtha one gallon.

To darken polish, benzoin and dragon's-blood are used, turmeric and other coloring matters are also added; and to make it lighter it is necessary to use bleached lac, though some endeavor to give this effect by adding oxalic acid to the ingredients, it, like gum arabic, is insoluble in good spirit or naphtha. for all ordinary purposes the first form is best and least troublesome, while its appearance is equal to any other.