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Take two long-wooled sheep skins, and make up a strong lather of soap, the sign ol proper strength is when the lather feels slippery between the fingers. When the lather is cold wash the skins carefully in it, squeezing them between the hands so as to take all the dirt out of the wool. When this is accomplished lift out the skins and wash them well in cold water until all the soap is extracted. Have a vessel of clean cold water ready, to which some alum and salt (about half a pound) which have been dissolved in a small quantity ol hot water, are added, and the skins left to steep all night. They are taken out in the morning and hung over a pole to drip.— When all the alum water has dripped off they are spread out on a board to dry, and are carefully stretched with the hand from time to time. Before they are thoroughly dry a composition of two table spoonsfull ot alum, and the same of saltpetre are ground to powder in a mortar or otherwise, and sprinkled carefully on the fleshy side of each skin. They are then placed the one on the top of the other, leaving the wool outside and hung upon a rack ot slats, in a barn, shed, or dry airy place, for about three days, or until they are dry—they should be turned every day. After this they are taken down and the flesh side is scraped with a blunt knife aud each skia trimmed for a mat. The flesh side may then be rubbed over with pipe clay, beat with a switch, and will then be found supple, of a beautiful white color, and fit for a door mat for a mechanic or a prince.
