IT is usually best to leave the walls or ceilings for at least a year before papering them, for the reason that it requires that time for the plaster to become so thoroughly dry as to hold the paper. If, however, it is desirable to paper new walls, it will be necessary to first put on a thin coat of sizing, in order to make a surface to which the paper will stick better than to the bare wall. This sizing may be made of a weak solution of glue, and may be put upon the wall with a whitewash brush. However, if the walls are green they are apt to draw the colors from the paper, so that it is best in all cases not to paper walls for at least a year.

In preparing an old whitewashed or colored wall for paper, the wash or color is first wetted well with water, and scraped off with an old plane-iron, or any piece of steel [226] which has a smooth edge, after which the wall should be swept down with a stiff broom, to remove all that the; scraper may have left, and make an even surface. If there is any loose plaster, those parts should be well sized and have a piece of strong paper pasted over them, but it is even better to have the place re-plastered. Cracks or holes may easily be filled with a little putty, and in no case should they be left unfilled. If not stopped in any other way, slips of paper should be pasted over them, or else the cracks will soon show through the outer paper.

After all this is done, the room may be sized, and the sizing will be dry enough in an hour for the papering to be commenced.

If the room has once been papered, it will be necessary to go over the walls and tear off all the loose pieces, especially at the top and bottom, corners and edges. If the bare wall is exposed by the tearing off, these spots should be sized. After all these preparations are made, the wall is ready to receive the paper, and the hanging may proceed.

Wall-paper comes in rolls, eight yards in length, and from eighteen to twenty-two inches in width. A margin runs along each side of the paper usually from one-fourth to three-fourths of an inch wide, and before hanging the paper the margin on one of these edges must be trimmed close to the pattern printed on the paper. To do this, unroll a yard or two of one of the pieces of paper and with a pair of scissors trim off the edge, rolling up the paper again as it is trimmed.

It is usual to begin papering from one of the main windows in the room, and the edges of the paper when hung shall be toward that window, so that it will be necessary to trim off the edge of the paper nearest to the window. It is necessary to trim off but one edge, as the paper when put on the wall laps over the margin of the other edge in order to match the pattern.

When the edge is trimmed, cut off a length about the height of the room from the ceiling to the base-board, or if a dado is to be used, so that it will come an inch or two below the top line of the dado. The second length must be cut so that the pattern will match exactly with the piece first cut, and so on.

If desired, as many lengths may be cut at once as will be necessary to cover the room, or each piece may be cut as it is needed.

The paste having been prepared beforehand, a thin layer maybe spread over the back of the first piece, fold the piece up so as to handle it easily, and having brought the top to meet the ceiling, see that the length hangs straight, trying it, if necessary, by a plumb-line; then, after having fastened the top to the wall, take it by the lower end, draw it away from the wall, being careful not to loosen it from the wall at the top, and let it fall back and it will drop into its place without a wrinkle.

Now with a soft clean cloth begin at the top and press the paper to the wall all down the center to the bottom. Then beginning at the top, again press it from the center to each side, alternately, regularly downward. If this operation be properly done, the length will be perfectly close to the wall, and smooth in every part.

It is not to be pressed heavily; but the cloth, being taken in the hand as a round, loose lump, must be moved quickly over the surface - dab - dab - dab - with a light, clean touch, otherwise some of the colors may be apt to smear. Last of all, mark with the point of the scissors where the paper meets the baseboard, cut off all that is over, and press the end carefully into its place.

Proceed with the second length in the same way, bringing the trimmed-off edge to meet the pattern of the first one, and taking care that no gap is left between. Neglect of these precautions will convert a handsome paper into a sight that will be a constant eye-sore. Try the lengths frequently with the plumb-line to avoid the chance of getting out of upright.