Preservation of Leather. The extreme heat to which most men and women expose hoots and shoes during winter deprives leather of its vitality, rendering it liahle to break and crack. Patent leather particularly is often destroyed in this manner. "When leather becomes so warm as to give off the smell of leather, it is singed. Next to the singeing caused by fire heat, is the heat and dampness caused by the covering of rubber. Close rubber shoes destroy the strength of leather. The practice of washing harness in warm water and with soap is very damaging. If a coat of oil is put on immediately after washiiig, the damage is repaired. No harness is ever so soiled that a damp sponge will not remove the dirt; but, even when the sponge is applied, it is always useful to add a slight coat of oil by the use of another sponge. All varnishes, and all blacking containing the properties of varnish should be avoided. Ignorant and indolent hostlers are apt to use such substances on their harness as will give the most immediate effect, and these, as a general thing, are most destructive to the leather.

3066. To Restore the Lustre of Leather

3066. To Restore the Lustre of Leather. "When harness loses its lustre and turns brown, which almost any leather will do after long exposure to the air, the harness should be given a new coat of grain black. Before using this grain black, the grain surface should be well washed with potash water until all the grease is killed, and after the application of the grain black, oil and tallow should be applied to the surface. This will not only fasten the color, but make the leather flexible. Harness which is grained can be cleaned with kerosene or spirits of turpentine.

3067. To Restore Softness to Leather

3067.   To Restore Softness to Leather. To restore the softness and pliancy of leather which has become hard by having been wet, apply neat's foot oil and rub it in. Castor oil is a good substitute for neat's foot oil for softening leather belts, boots and harness. But the best oil for harness, is 1 quart neat's foot oli, 4 ounces beef's tallow, and 3 table-spoonfuls lampblack; add 4 ounces bees' wax for use in summer weather.

3068. To Restore the Lustre of Morocco

3068.    To Restore the Lustre of Morocco. The lustre of Morocco is restored by a varnishing with the white of an egg. Apply with a sponge.

3069. To Make Boots Waterproof

3069.    To Make Boots Waterproof. Beef tallow, 4 ounces; resin, 1 ounce; bees' wax, 1 ounce; melt together. Add, when cold, a quantity of neat's foot oil equal to the mass. Apply with a rag, warming the boots before a lire, to the soles as well as uppers, and rub in well with the hand. Two applications will make the boots thoroughly waterproof and still keep them soft. We, however, do not approve of such preparations, as the feet generally perspire more than any other portions of the body, and any waterproof preparations applied to boots prevent the perspiration from escaping, and keep the feet wet and cold. The New England fishermen preserve their boots waterproof by this method, which, it is said, has been in use among them above 100 years.