[ 3 6 * ]

completelythat which had the smallest proportion oftar, easily enough ; that which had the largest proportion,difficultly. If therefore it should be feared, that the tallowwill fail in point of durability or adhesiveness, which,however, 1 do not apprehend that it will; it is plain, thatas much as can be desired of this quality may be commu-nicated, without damaging the wool, by a proper additionof the substances commonly made use of. I do not con-ceive that the nature of the thing can admit of any greaterperfection.

There is a material circumstance in this affair, whichdoes not seem to have been sufficiently considered by thosewho proposed the enquiry. If we could discover, whichsome have fruitlessly endeavoured to do, a staining compo-sition in the nature of a dye, possessing all the good qualitiesthat have been mentioned; it would scarcely be possible,as matters stand at present, to induce the farmers to makeuse of it. They require a substance that will add weight:and I apprehend it will be no small recommendation to theabove composition, that in this respect, as in all othersexcept its being innocent to the wool, it agrees as nearlyas can be expected, with the materials to which theyhave been long familiarized.

IV. Composition for preserving wood, &c.

The great adhesiveness, which renders tar unfit as aprincipal ingredient, and excellent as a secondary one, forthe purposes of the foregoing article, adapts it to anotheruse, on some occasions not a little important; the preserv-ing of some kinds of wood on the outsides of certain build-ings, the covering of sheds, paling, &c. as also for coatingcommon tiles, in imitation of the black glazed tiles, whichare fold at a much higher price.

Tar