The Camden daily journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1864-1864, 1864-10-12
Important 10 Plahters aud Others.

Important to Planters aud Others.
{ Lieut.M. w. Fields, Twelfth Virgins In
fantry, has furnished for the Petersburg Ex-
press the following valuable and expeditions re-
cipe for preparing leather dressed with the hair
on. He vonches for the stability and duration
ofthe leather thus prepared, and refers to high
authority for the truth of his Saverment, rs well
as to soldiers who have worn shoes made from
it. We. therefore, prhlish it for the benefit of
farmers and individuals who may have hides 10
tan, and recommend that. they test it. The:
hides are not only quickly tanned, but the
leather when prepared bears most favorable
comparison with the Best produced by lifelong
and tedious process in vogue in England and
in this country Many of the soldiers ID one,
if not in more of the brigades of this amy have
used shoes made from this leather for months
past and pronounce them superior IS regards
/; comfort and quality, to the English and Amer
ican army shoe
NODE oF,PREpARiSe LEATHER DRESSED WITH
HAIR. on.
lst. If hides are old, hard and dry, soak them
in pure water about two or three days.
3D. When well soaked or when fresh hides,
flesh them thoroughly. IL
Sd Prepare a pickle made Of 8 lbs alum,
and 5 lbs common salt to a pint of water
enough to dissolve tue salts for each hide this
is an. average proportion,
For a very large single old hide, 5 1-e lbs
alum and s lbs salt, may be necessary where.
as for small calf hide, 3=4 lb alum and 2 lbs
salt may be enough. But for pack of 25
hides unassortet, OF all sizes, end conditions,
the average is as above.
4th. Soak the foshed hides in this piSklc
from 8 to 10 days. more or less, according to
condition of hides.
5th. Soak them again or 8 days IN pure
water, to take out the Salt.
9Th. When about half dry Break them with
the proper curriers' breaking knives.
7th. Smoke them, flesh side down, say s or
10 days over hard wood, (hickory or oak)
smother, continuing to break and roll and grind
them in, succession.
Sth. Boil the neatsfeet for oil save the oil
and lubricate the hides with the Jelly and
greasy water breaking, them all the time.
9th. Dress aud finish off. s
Fhe small hides thin and fresh, car be finish
ed in from six to eight days. Medium size
hides in good condition, from twelve to fifteen
DAYS. The largest and worst conditioned hides
can be finished in from eighteen to twenty days.
1t is recommended to take from eighteen to
twenty day. for all. Ifyou wantthe hair of,
soak in lime water first until the hair slough; ;
but then you must be careful to thoroughly
work the lime out, or it will eat the fibre Of the
leather. ),
The leather is best wita the hair on. 1t
makes the best and most comfortable shoe
soles and all. Putthe hair the uppers inside;
and of the soles--pus.upper sole hair out, and
outer sole hair in, thus fill the !soles with the
best.of water proofng and making the solca the
more elasicand lasting.
With the,hair on tits especially best for sad
bic covers, stirrnp feathers, sbabracks, traces,
horse collars, caps, gloves, sentinel coats, halt
ers, trunk covers, and every use known. I
Among other South Carolina officers con-
fined on Morris Island are the following Capt.
J. NJ. Mdlyany, 27th; Major Zeiglcr, Holcombe
Legion, Captain Thos. Pinckney, Major Hum
nell, Lieutenant Epps, 4ih Cavalry; Lieuten-
ant Bissel,s2 Infantry; Lient I. w. Easter
ling, Captain Meacham, 9th Infantry; Captain
": L Campbell, 18th,