ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22629, 22 July 1935, Page 8

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS

" Daphne," Milton.—Mr Tannock advises a liberal mulching of the daphne with wellrotted manure, cow manure for preference. " Subscriber," Oamaru.—Dan Koloff met George Walker once, the bout taking place In the Wellington Town Hall on June 18, 1934. The contest went the full eight rounds, Koloff securing the only fall by a dump and body press. " Parch.," Oturehua.—The manufacture of writing material made from the skins of animals is said to have been brought to perfection by Eumenes II of Pergamos (197-158 8.C.). Ordinary parchment is chiefly made of sheep skins, but skins of calves and goats are also used. Pine parchment and vellum are prepared from the skins of kids, lambs, and young calves. The early stages in the manufacture of .parchment are the same as for leather. After being unhaired and cleaned, the skins are stretched evenly upon" a stout wooden frame called a " horse." The flesh side of the skin Is first gone over with a doubleedged semi-circular knife (fleshing tool) to remove adhering particles of flesh. With the fleshing tool Inverted to prevent any cutting of the epidermis, the other side of the skin is then scraped to remove dirt and to squeeze out some of the absorbed water. Pine parchment for writing or drawing upon, some of which is made from split skins, is sprinkled over with sifted chalk on the flesh side and rubbed smooth with a flat surface of pumice stone. The grain side of the skin is also rubbed over with pumice, but no chalk Is used. Great care requires to be taken nof to fray the surface, and certain precautions are necessary during the drying of the parchment. Any considerable roughness or unequal thickness is removed by the skin being again scraped and pumiced.