To Harden Wood

One often desires to impart the hardness of Oak to

shutters, doors, etc., made of soft wood. This is easily done by giving

them a first coating of common gray paint, and then sifting some very

fine sand over it. When dry a coat of paint is laid on, after which the

surface becomes so hard that it will resist the action of sun and rain,

for many years without undergoing the slightest alteration.