December 11, 1852
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Take a quart of tar, three pounds of rosin, melt them, bring to a cooling temperature, mix with as much saw dust, with a little charcoal added, as can be worked in; spread out while hot, upon a board ; when cold, break it into lumps of the size of a large hickory nut. The composition .will easily ignite from a match, and burn with Ii strong blaze, long enough to start any wood that is fit to burn.
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