The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-07-03
lE6r the anderson LatelHgencer.
fhe Best Method of Curing Hides.


1he Best Method of Curing Hides.
IAs the season for butchering cattle, sheep,
&C., has commenced, 1 beg to call the attention
of butchers and farmers of Anderson County
to the very defective manner of curing hides
and skins usually praoticed by them, not only
to their own injury and loss, but to great
extent detrimental to all the industries direct
lv connected with the hide, leather and shoe
trades. allude to the process of drying hide
without the application of salt, or the use14 ~
other agents for the preservation of tb M .si0
from putrifaction and decay. Many, oe'son'
enormously employ wood ashes fc 'uls n, pal u, :
pose which is to the hide or skim -. ~.
most destructive and injurious appliance that
ignorance or careless indi8e1nce coula nave
devised. OF the many thrsands of hides and
skins annually taken off our oounsy, sun,ss onrsd
ly one fourth of the n'noer are prope,'s , ou,sI'
hundreds are thro,n away or wasted through
carelessness and neglect, and the remainder
are 50 indiffer,,tly handled as to render their
conversion 10 prime quality of leather next
to an impssibility. ,..,.
To o.re hides correctly requires but little
tro,,,e and but q small outlay; the process is
s;n,ole, cheap, and in all seasons certain in Its
sood 90 results: First, spread the hide out, flesh
side uppermos, Strengthening out all creases
and folds, and then apply one pound of salt to
every eight pounds of green hide, OR from one
mint to one gallon of salt according to the size
Of the hid; after which fold the hide up, lap
ping in al the fanks and edges, keeping tesh
to flesh g much as possible. In this condition
allow to remain two or three days, by which
time tie salt will have dissolved and thoroughly
penetrated the tissue, when it may be hung up
to dry in shady and airy place. Skins, such
asshose of sheep and goats, require usually
fpm one pint to one quart of salt. which should
aways be applied the instant the skin is taken
from the animal, as they are, especially the
former, very tender and quickly putrify, par
ticularly if the weather is warm.
Many persons labor under the mistaken be-
lief that it is waste of salt when used for the
purpose of curing hides. For the especial
DeQeQC OF SuCu eCOuOLulCtli POASoooJ A~'S w
duced from actual test the following table,
showing the comparative weights of differently
cured hides, with their value annexed, based
upon the present prices of leather:
40 lbs green hido saed gives % lbs dry worth Is cts b.
f" unsalted, 1S
ashed, 16 10
Hence there is an evident gain, not only In
the weight, but also in the market value OF
sated hides over those cured otherwise; gain
which will not only pay handsomely for the
salt used, but also for the trouble-a fact Which
it is to be hoped will induce our butchers and
farmers, or any who may have the handling OF
green hides, to remedy this great evil, thereby
saving hundreds of hides and skins from waste
and destruction, better supplying our markets
with a superior material for the manufacture
of leather, of which better article will be
produced and lower prices established; and In
the end, prove saving to our people of many
thousands of dollars, annually expended in the
North for leather, shoes and boots, all of which
or at least great measure, could be furnished
at home but for the want of a little economy
and care in the simple matter of curing hides
A. H. O.