Gunnison news-champion., 1924-02-01

ments in tanning leather. Different
strips Of rawhide treated in the glass
containers demonstrated the thorough
ness with which all ingredients were
absorbed Repeatedly the rawhiGe
strips drained the rich, red solution
until only very clear water remained,
with the gelatin deposits well gather
cd in the bottom Of the receptacle.
One strip Of thick neck hide from :
beef. was thoroly permeated in seyen-
~ days with solution kept well up
IN strength. Thinner strips were
tanned in less time, but Of course corn-
parative time results could not be Sc
cured in the regular tanning pits on
an economical basis. -Four to five
months would perhaps cover fairly nc
eurafely the time necessary to tan q
cowhide in q practical tanning oper-
alton.
Douglas FIR. thru the large demand
made upon it for railroad ties, bridge
dmbers and other material demanding
great tensile strength, has been pref
~ well cut over thruout Colorado. In
formation rs TO any considerable
cuttings Of this tree in the west can
be obtained from the District Forester,
Denver, Colorado, or The Forester,
Washington, d. C.
Willow Leaves (Salix Amygdaloides)
In searching for tannin among trees
and shrubs, one may easily learn to
recognize "pay streak" by the taste.
1t was in this manner that my atten-
ton was first drawn to the willow
the small variety forming so many
thickets along the mountain streams
Of Colorado, and also extending into
the cultivated valleys. Upon chewing
q few leaves was astonished at the
strong astringent taste, and the puck
cry effect left in my mouth. cut an
armful of the smaller shoots, heavily
laden with leaves, and boiled the whole
IN the green state, in q wash boiler.
The ooze was of q light brown color,
into which-immediately after cool
ing-I put light, already prepared
sheep skin rawhide. The avidity with
which the sheep skin absorbed the
coloring matter was surprising; in
about thirty minutes distinct green
ish color started to show on the skin
in spots. This was in the evening,
and by the following morning all ex-
posed portions of the sheep skin were
colored greenish drab. / then Sc
cured more material, prepared 2-3 of
barrel of ooze, and thoroly tanned
the skin in week. The leather was
soft and pliable and of a beautiful
color-a dark gray tinged with green.
My wife at once preempted the first
skin finished for a hand bag-which
she still uses. Willow leaves seem
well adapted for tanning sheen skins
and light feathers for hand bags and
other articles where the leather should
be soft and pliable, and have catch
ing color.
Canaigre Root
(Rumus Hymenosepalus)
This root is the exception to which
referred in the Introductory part of
this article. 1t belongs to the Dock
family, with which we are all familiar.
1t bears roots very much resembling
sweet potatoes-where the roots oc-
cur singly. In many instances, how
ever, these roots grow in clusters and
one plant will yield as much as a gal
lon of them. These roots are exceed
ingly rich in tannic acid, but they also
yield a large amount of gallo acid
and other substances which have no
place in tanning operations, but which
have a marked tendency to sour or
ferment the ooze. This fermentation
was the trouble encountered in using
this material as tanning agency,
and which prevented securing positive
results.
/ tried several different combina-
tions with canaigre root as the main
material, but the results were invari-
ehlY. fhnIlDh in flifrerenf daureas tho