HOUND THE SKIN AND WOOL SALES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9619, 12 October 1909, Page 6

HOUND THE SKIN AND WOOL SALES.

HINTS TO FARMERS. As is usual at the spring season of the year, when the mortality among sheep /s greatest, a large number of skins are sent into the local auction sales, and such was the case last Wednesday. THE SKINS. With some marked exceptions a large proportion were anything but a credit to the farmers, large numbers having been exposed in all weathers, so wrinkled up and decayed that the wool was damaged, and the pelts quite valueless for any purpose. In

some instances too wet to pick, such faults naturally tend to depreciate the produce in the eyes of the purchasers. Yet it is so easy to avoid this loss. The pelts, except those taken from sheep which have been dead for several days, are in good order when removed from the carcases, and if so soon as possible af!.er this performance the tiKins are brought under cover, spread out carefully on a floor or hung lengthways along a rail or wire until thoroughly dry, they k will not only be in a fit state to send to the market, but will realise much higher prices than if sent in weather beaten and decayed. WOOL.

The quantity submitted was limited, consisting of a few bales and sacks of pieces, crutchings and dead wool. There was room for more care being taken to free the wool from dirt. On the whole, in both skins and wool there was less vegetable matter, such as straw, chaff and shavings than is usually the case. Complaints are made that some settlers put off sending their wool, sliins, and other produce to the several warehouses until a few hours before the sales open. This is most unfair to the auctioneers, whose assistants have to hurry through the work of classification, and cataloguing, often working into the late hours of night. As the classing of wool and sheep skins cannot be done to the best advantage under artificial light it is very unsatisfactory to all concerned. Settlers are very prone to complain if their produce is held over till the following monthly sale. They have themselves to blame. The fault ib their own, by send'ng it forward in good time. HIDES.

As usud there is much room for improvement in the saving and curing of hides. There is ba'l work displayed in flaying and trimming, and many of them are marketed quite innocent of any contact with salt. If the farmer desires to obtain the highest price they should see that j the hides are taken from the carj case without cutting and scoring, j and that they are stretched flat on a ! wood or level earthern floor under cover, and then sprinkled liberally with coarse salt, and if there are a number they can be placed one upon the other. Prior to being sent for sale they should be folded up neatly and tied. It is fatal to the value of hides to let them dry and get hard in the sun, or to refrain from salting them. The trimming is a very necessary step, so much so that in 1907 the Brokers and Buyers' Association issued a diagram and instructions indicating how it should be done—viz., "Foreleg to be taken off above knee (V shaped inwards). Hind leg at second joint or hock (V shaped inwards), no pocket to be left. Tail to be cut off within two inches ot body. Forehead, ears, lips to come off, cheeks to be rounded off, and all useless pieces on any part of hide or calfskin to be cut off," Sellers

may exclaim that this trimminsr will take off from the weight. But they should keep in mind that as a consequence a higher figure will be reached, and that buyers are tco keen, and circumspect, to pay for what is of no value to them.

CALF SKINS.

Since the "slaughter of the innocents" came in vogue, large numbers of skins have come upon the market in some districts by thousands, and they find a ready sale at fair prices if well got up and conditioned. Rut here is the rub—as with ox and cow hides, as with calf skins, great neglect is displayed. They should be spread on a floor to the full size of the skin so soon as removed from the carcase, and im mediately salted and trimmed in the same manner as "described for hides. It may be new to some farmers to learn that in the Melbourne market calfskins fetch value according "to the spread," the thickness, as with hide.-, not being taken into account. It is not very creditable to the Wairarapa that the skins and nicies sent from it are noted as being the worst conditioned in New Zealand. Yet such is the verdict of wellkrown authorities.