St. James's.
_How to stain Deal_ (Vol. vii., p. 356.).--Your correspondent C. will find
that a solution of {559} asphaltum in boiling turpentine is a very good
stain to dye deal to imitate oak. This must be applied when cold with a
brush to the timbers: allowed to get dry, then size and varnish it.
The dye, however, which I always use, is a compound of raw umber and a
small portion of blue-black diluted to the shade required with strong size
in solution: this must be used hot. It is evident that this will not
require the preparatory sizing before the application of the varnish.
Common coal, ground in water, and used the same as any other colour, I have
found to be an excellent stain for roof timbers.