646. To Tan Sheep's Pelts with the Wool On

646.    To Tan Sheep's Pelts with the Wool On. "Wash the pelts in warm water, and remove all fleshy matter from the inner surface; then clean the wool with soft soap, and wash clean. When the pelt is perfectly free from all fatty and oily matter, apply the following mixture to the flesh side, viz.: For each pelt take common salt and ground alum, 1/4 pound each, and 1/2 ounce borax; dissolve the whole in 1 quart hot water, and when sufficiently cool to bear the hand, add rye meal to make it like thick paste, and spread the mixture on the flesh side of the pelt. Fold the pelt lengthwise, and let it remain 2 weeks in an airy and shady place; then remove the paste from the surface, wash, and dry. "When nearly dry, scrape the flesh side with a crescent-shaped knife. The softness of the pelt depends much on the amount of working it receives.

647. To Prepare Sheep Skins for Mats

647.      To Prepare Sheep Skins for Mats. Make a strong lather with hot water, and let it stand till cold; wash the fresh skin in it, carefully squeezing out all the dirt from the wool; wash it in cold water till all the soap is taken out. Dissolve a pound each salt and alum in 2 gallons hot water, and put the skin into a tub sufficient to cover it; let it soak for 12 hours, and hang it over a pole to drain. When well drained, stretch it care-fully on a board to dry, and stretch several times while drying. Before it is quite dry, sprinkle on the flesh side 1 ounce each of finely pulverized alum and saltpetre, rubbing it in well. Try if the wool be firm on the skin; if not, let it remain a day or two, then rub again with alum; fold the flesh sides together and hang in the shade for 2 or 3 days, turning them over each day till quite dry. Scrape the flesh side with a blunt knife, and rub it with pumice or rotten stone. Very beautiful mittens can be made of lamb skins prepared in this way.

648. To Tan Muskrat Skins with the Fur On

648.    To Tan Muskrat Skins with the Fur On. First wash the hide in warm water, and remove all fatty and fleshy matter. Then soak it in a liquor prepared as follows : To 10 gallons cold soft water add 8 quarts wheat bran, 1/2 pint old soap, 1 ounce borax; by adding 2 ounces sulphuric acid the soaking may be done in one-half the time. If the hides have not been salted, add 1 pint salt. Green hides should not be soaked more than 8 or 10 hours. Dry ones should soak till very soft. For tan liquor, to 10 gallons warm soft water add 1/2 bushel bran; stir well and let stand in a warm room till it ferments. Then add slowly 21/2 pounds sulphuric acid; stir all the while. Muskrat hides should remain in about 4 hours ; then take out and rub with a flesh. ing knife - (an old chopping knife with the edge taken off will do.) Then work it over a beam until entirely dry.

649. To Cure Rabbit Skins

649.     To Cure Rabbit Skins. Lay the skin on a smooth board, the fur side undermost, and fasten it down with tinned tacks. Wash it over first with a solution of salt; then dissolve 21/2 ounces alum in 1 pint of warm water, and with a sponge dipped in this solution, moisten the surface all over; repeat this every now and then for three days; when the skin is quite dry, take out the tacks, and rolling it loosely the long way, the hair inside, draw it quickly backwards and forwards through a large smooth ring, until it is quite soft, then roll it in the contrary way of the skin, and repeat the operation. Skins prepared thus are useful for many domestic purposes.