VALUE OF SHEEPSKINS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19799, 21 November 1927, Page 15

VALUE OF SHEEPSKINS.

METHOD OF TREATMENT. PAYABLE RETURNS OBTAINABLE. All over the country sheep are regularly killed for home consumption. Sheepskins amply repay any extra trouble taken in preparing them for sale. Do not throw the fresh skin " anyhow " over a fence when it is taken off, because as it gets cold, it " sets," and no future handling can bring it back to the most desirable shape for drying. The losses through carelessrioss in this direction ara considerable. Unless they are properly stretched, and then dried under cover, skins will not realise top prices. Great care should be exercisod in removing the skin from the carcase. In doing this, writes an exchange, the knife should be used only where necessary—that is principally for opening at different points. • By using the hand, and punching it against the skin, the latter can be separated from the flesh without making knife cuts or leaving flesh on the skin. The killing, should bo done on a draining board, and care taken to prevent blood getting into the wool. As soon as the skin has been removed, hang it over a narrow - rail, or wire from tho neck end to tail, flesh side uppermost, with the trotters hanging down on eitlrer side. This tends to stretch the skin. Next morning the skin will be set, and its shape will not alter. If the skin is to be kept for any length of time it should be painted with a solution of arsenate of soda. A lib. tin procurable at a chemists, dissolved in a gallon of water, and then made up to five gallons, is sufficient for 120 ordinary sized skins. This solution should he painted over the skins before they are quite dry. Treat every part, especially about the neck and points. After painting cut off the trotters and hang the skins-over a narrow rail under cover with the heads down, so that the necks will get thoroughly dry. Then they can bo stored away, and if properly dry and kept clean, will keep their colour and shape. In packing them to send away for sale, fold with tho woolly side exposed, place a piece of bagging at each end of the parcel to protect the skins, and then fasten with wire.