Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1861-12-11
From. tho Southern Field anl Firesida.
EuMeaH Made Leather.
LOUISVILLE, Ga. Nov.

AoCiofi fi1Gn, S'i, A'o'. IVA
Dr. Lee,-Dear .Siir:: Your editorials
upoa the subject of Tanning are very
instructive, and have read them viii. a
great deal Of ofintercst, but think they. fail
to meet the wants OF the farmer, especial
ly those in common circumstances, Near
y every farmer has from five to ten hides;
aad if each one could tan his own leather
g. home, these few hides would make
leather enough to furnish shoes for all his
Imi!y, aud for plantation use besides.
This is time Of speculation, and if the
hides are sold to men who own tannerics,
they will not bring more money than will
buy pair of shoes at the prices now
asked for them. hope you will give
the desired information with full instruc-
tious. through the columns Of the South.
~A f;sxu aad ETyesids, how farmers may
tan their own leather at home.
Yours respectfully, JIG. ].
Tue above request is both sensible ard
timely. and We will clldeavor to meet the
wishes Of the wrier. 1t will be better
for several farmers having from five to
tcn hides each, to unite in the purchase
OF a bark mill for grinding tan bark, ard
constructing few vats for their common
use, than for one 10 be at the whole en-
pense for so small business as his own
alone. The most primitive way Of taa-
ming is in touShs dug out Of large trees
like pine and poplar; but 1nolasses ard
bacon hogsteads will form The cheapest
taa watts for tie farmers use Dig OFT
the enrta TWO thirds the depth of the hogs
hna3s, pound moist CLAY over the bottom
on which the hngshesds are to stand.
Three or four will 10 for the tanning part
Of leather making. Let lhon not come
within six inches Of eac! other, so that
lnois. clay may be pounded closely around
tslch hu..shrad To within three inches 81
I'll. top. II bark canlot bs ground, ii
should bs broken or cut Are with all axe,
SO rs TO fill two Of the hogsheads. Heat
clear spring Or rain water boiling hot in
large }rots or kettles till the bark in both
ho3shy..ds is covered with it, Let the
h.rk steep ard soak week or more,
while the rsw hides are prepared for tht
coze ard tanning, One hogShead will d.
for this, bat two are better They ought
/" 10 stin,d some yards from tho bark watts,
'x.cause lime spattering into the ooze in,
jurcs it. Surround these with clay like
TIE hngShcad used for tanning.
Alter the horns, tell ard drw-claws arc
removed FROM green hide, it is split i'll.
To two halves or sides, from the tail tr'
tic nose on the pate. If the hide is dry,
il lnu.t coax and soften first. After it i.
srii;. it goes upon the beam, and the ope.
ralive scrapes and tears off all the fl-sl
Nld part of the t;Ascia oy membrane, whicl
covers the flesh sida Of every skin. 1t is
row rss.'y f,r the limo. 4 half bushes
Of recently Slake,d lime Or some less ol
,urk lime will do for a hogahead nearly
fall of water. The lime and water shnulG
ne well stirred with Il clean hoe. or the
plunge" before putting sides or skins
into the same, They should be offer
moved about in the lime-waier by Lever
so.Ec seven or eight feet long, and hauled
ont unce day with an iron or woodel
hook. such rs tanners use. SO soon as
the hair will slip, sides should be worked
over the beam and Eiused in the soak, ol
water hogshead, TO remove the hair and
all the lime The hogshcad used as 9
soak, washed clean, is now to serve as 8
hen.dung vat or bate to extract all the
lime III sao tissues Of the hides and skins.
A bushel of clean, dry hen manure will
answer for bate. Ii fermcnts and is
ripe for use in one or two days, after soak
irg in q half hogshead or more of water
Afnch pains and care is used in working
sides and skins out of the hate, as they
60 from this into the tan ooze. They will
soon saint and spoil in warm weather.
Worked and washed clean, the sides and
skins are next handled two or three times
day in tan oozc until they are evenly
covered and get handsome, fine grain.
The handling is done in this wise ::
Place three or four pieces Of plank four
feet long down as platform, so as to
slope over the hogshead, ard let ooze
from the leather, when lifted out Of it
upon the plank, run back into the hogs
head and not waste on The ground Short
pieces of scantling or sticks Of clean wood
lie on three sides OF the plank over which
the edges Of the Two first sides laid down,
extend, and thus form sort of trough.
ol'en only at the end that lies over the
edge Of the hogshead. All ths sides are
drawn up separate from tho liquor with
hook and spread by hand on tho platform,
and are thrown back into the ooze again.
If the latter IS weak it IS half or more
pumped out, and fresh strcna ooze is
pumped in. Tie two hogshaads of bark,
with boiling hot water, will keep up the
strength as fast as ten or twelve sides can
possibly absorb It, after starting with two
logsIleacss Of good ooze. You cannot heat
cd eozc i'll al iron vessel, as it would
spoil it; but You may perhaps beg or
borrow copper still n, which tan ooze
may be heated without the least injury to
the liquor or the still The heated ooze
is put on the bark, as it is much better
,ip.n water, where it is allowed to become
about az cool as the atmosphere.