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Mucilage, Simple and Good.
Put nice gum Arabic, 1/4 lb. into a 1/2pt. bottle, then fill it with soft water, and cork. Turn it bottom upwards and shake occasionally for a day or two, or until dissolved, and it is ready to use for putting paper together of any kind.
Remarks. —I made a quart of it using 1 lb. of the gum some 2 years ago, for use when I had a quotation to put on in writing this book, and although it is sour, still it is just as good as when made. It is said 3 or 4 drops of oil of cloves prevents it souring or moulding. It may prevent mould, but I doubt its preventing it from souring. The souring does not hurt it, nor has mine moulded. Some persons use as much gum tragacanth as they do of Arabic, say 2 ozs. each to 1/2 pt. of water. The tragacanth is a little harder to dissolve, and, of course, is a little stronger also (see the next recipe), but the Arabic is good enough for me. This might be called "scrap-book paste, " or mucilage, as you choose. I use it upon my little photos which I have for years attached to my letters putting it upon the sheets, before I cut them apart—and when dry they never have stuck together, although a book is laid upon them to keep them flat. It is an excellent mucilage.
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