Boil 15 pounds of lard or suet, and slowly add 6 gallons of liquid lye, strong enough to hold up an egg high enough to leave a piece as big as a quarter bare

Stir until thick, take out a little and cool, if no grease rises, it is done

If any grease appears, add more lye and boil up again

If it does not harden well on cooling, add some salt

If it is to be perfumed, melt it the next day, add the perfume, and run it in moulds or cut in cakes when cold

The best vessel for making this lye is the family cast iron boiling laundry pot.