THE COUNTRY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 304, 20 December 1912, Page 9

THE COUNTRY.

HOW TO CURE AND FLAY CALFSKINS. >fany farmers and aatrymen have not Te t realised that they have a valuable asset in the skins Irom young calves and -pearling ß which die or are .slaughtered in the course of their business. The statistics show that only a proportion of _c calves killed during the dairy seagon ire flayed and the skins marketed. How, this i_ a thing that only wants pointing out, states a circular issued {v Messrs. Wilson and Canham. of Auckland, for when the few minutes' labour _ flaying mil bring in more than the ]jT3 animal does after a week's feeding »nd carriage to market, there should be jo hesitation about adding another source of income to the heTd. To obtain the best prices for calf skins or yearling hides, some care is necessary, and the following suggestions will be useful:— KILLING. When killing the animal, care should te taken to see that it is well bled. This

first point is important, as otherwise the skin will remain a dirty red colour, instead of white. SKTNNTNG. Lay the calf on its back in a clean place and open up the skin from the seek along the beily to the tail, then from the hrxrks to the tail inside the lea:, and from the knee to the point ot the "jrisket. Flay round the fore and hind

-jusrters, and then pull off without far-I tter use of the knife. When an instru- j meat is needed on the body, a wooden knife or blunt stick is all that is neces- J saj. The great tiling is to avoid cut- I ting the skin or hide. ?_» -he smallest! puncture about th j _..._■ ai once reduces the value h ...... 1 Another very c .= v „ method employed by those who have experience is to open up the belly and legs as much »s possible, as above, next to start the | skin from the neck with the ears on, I then to hang the body securely by the j Beck piece iwhich with the ears on give *|ood grip) to a tackle or a horse, the | fcde will then draw off like a rabbit : skin. The accompanying diagram shows th" results of the right and the wrong methods of opening up the skin. CURING. •** socra a3 the animal heat is out of the body, not before, lay it hair-side down on a clean floor or raised platform, preferably on a wooden sad-die, so that the drainage gets rapidly away. Spread all the points out well, and sprinkle Car-fully with clean salt. See that all the points and the neck get their share, remembering that salt is cheap. If too little salt is used, or is applied whilst ire animal hear 15 etill in the skin or if it has been left too long before saltmg. the hair will pull. It U then what is called slippy, and about one-third the value of the first-class article. TRTMMING. Ear pieces and any ragged edges should be taken off. but leave the dreas-mg-up of the skin to your merchant or broker, who will know what is required. MARKETING. If the hides or skin 3 have to go any distance, place them one on top of the ouier with the salt on, and roll in threes or fours with the hair side out. Put in good sound bags, and brand the bags p.amly. "i ou are then sure of prompt delivery and credit for your o_ consignment.