Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-04-18

pelts with the wool on, wash them in
warm water, remove all the fleshy matter.
and clean the wool thoroughly with soft
soap and water. Having thus freed it of
all fatty matter apply to the flesh side the
following mixture: Take half pound
each Of fine salt and powdered alum and
half an ounce of borax. Dissolve these in
a quart of hot water, and after cooling the
mixture to degree that the hand may be
held in it, aGd rye meal to make it into a
paste. After spreading it on the fieshy
side of the pelt-and the quantity named
is what will be needed for one pelt-fold
the pelt lengthwisc and let it remain in
an airy place for two weeks, after which
remove the paste wash and dry. When
nearly dry scrape with II knife which
should be of crescent shape, and the soft
ness of the pclt will depend very much
upon the amount o! working that is
bestowed upon it.
If the skin is to be used for mat, the
following plan is to be recommended:
with strong lather made with hot water
but used when cod-wash the fresh
skin. being careful to get out all the dirt
from the wool. 1t is better to plunge the
skin right into the ln,her. After doing
so wash the skin clean in cold water.
Now dissolve pound each of salt and
alum, in two gallons of hot water. Put
this into some sort of r tub in which the
skin can be placed and have the mixture
cover'it. After twelve hours soaking, take
it out and hang it upon pole TO drain.
When it has been we'll drained, stretch it
upon board to dry, and stretch it several
times during the process OF drying. Before
it is quite dry sprinkle on the flesh side
one ounce each of powdered alum and
ltpetre, rubbed in well. If the wool is
then found to be firm on the skin it can be
folded up and let remain two or three
days. or until dry, turning the skin over
from day TO day. Then scrape the flesh
side with blunt knife, and rub it with
pumce stone
Now, in conclusion, we would give the
following as good way of tanning any
kind of fur skin. After preparing it by
cutting off the useless parts, and sotening
it by soaking in warm water for an hour
or such matter,mix equal parts ofboraX,
saltpetre and glauber salts, in proportion
of about one half ounce each for each skin
with sufficient wa'er to make thin paste.
Spread this with brush on the flesh side,
applying it somewhat thicker on the
thicker parts. Double the skin together,
flesh side in, and hang in cool place AS
directed above. After twenty four hours.
wash the skin clean, and apply in the way
before described, one ounce of salsoda,
half an ounce of borax and two ounces of
hard white soap, melted slowly together
without being allowed to boil. Fold the
skin together again and put away in
warm place for twenly-four hours. After
this dissolve four ounces of alum, eight
ounces of salt and two ounces OF saleratus
in enough hot water to satura,e the skin.
When the hands can be borne in the mix
ure, soak the skin in it for twelve hours.
Then wiring and hang it up to dry. Repeat
his soaking and drying two or three
lines until the skin is as soft as you want
it. Then smooth the inside with tine sand
paper and pumice stone.- Wester" Rural.