PRICE OF SKINS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXV, Issue 3369, 24 September 1931, Page 2

PRICE OF SKINS.

A few years ago it was common practice for farmers to take in a few skins, hides or crutchings on Saturday morning and in that way provide. pocket money for the day in town. To-day these tit-bits are worth practically nothing to sell, and it is wiser to make use of them on the farm than to give them away. A cowhide which is only worth 4/-to-day can be used for making reins, couplings and various straps, etc., and a sheep skin, value about 1/makes soft place to fall out of bed on a frosty morning. CURING HIDES. First take hair off hide with lime and ashes by dissolving 8 or 101 b. of burnt lime and half a bucket of wood ashes in sufficient water (about 8 gallons) to cover the hide. Stir two or three times a day and in about two days the hair can be scraped off with a blunt hoe. To take the effect of the lime out scald a bucket full of bran and add sufficient water to cover the hide, stirring each day for a week till it ferments. Again wash clean. Take 51b. salt, 51b. alum, lOoz. oxalic acid, dissolve in boiling water add sufficient water to cover skin and leave for a week, stirring each day. Lay the skin on the barn floor flesh side up to dry, and while it is drying spend ten minutes night and morning rubbing with a heavy piece of wood or brick, as this helps to break the fibre, and if done properly the hide remains soft. The hitre shauld be dried slowly, this taking about three weeks. An easier method of softening is to use neatsfoot oil, but reins done this way require frequent oiling.