HOW TO TAN SMALL SKINS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1327, 28 August 1886, Page 3

HOW TO TAN SMALL SKINS.

i A correspondent of tho West Coast c Times forwards to that journal, the - following recipe for tanning calf, sheep, - and other skins with the hair on or off: , “Take A">z powdered alum, fib of i starch, of sulphuric acid, 21 gallons i of water in a largo shallow vessel, put the several ingredients into the water in the order named. Place the skin to be tanned on the surface of the mixture thus formed the fLsh side down, this will permit the hair, to retain itsnaturd wave. Let the skin remain in tho mixture 43 hours, after which hang it over a pole to drain for half an hoar or more, after which beat or hit it with light strokes of a smooth round stick until quite pliable. If not soft or pliable

enough from the first dressing place the skin in the I'quid and lot it remain for a day, after which take out and treat as before; care should be taken not to let the snn shine on the skin while in the moisture or while be ng dressed, as in such case the skin has a tendency to crack and ahrink up. If desirable to give the skin a dark cdor, put into the mixture 2oz tine ure of iron. If the tanning mixture a r ter use is put away in close vessels it will relain its strength to be used again and again.