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To Harden Tallow with Resin

To 1 pound tallow take 1 pound common res- 1 pound tallow take + pound common resin; melt them together, and mould the candles the usual way. This will give a candle of superior lighting power, and as hard as a wax candle; a vast improvement upon the common tallow candle, in all respects except color.

Wool On. Wash the pelts in warm water, 646. To Tan Sheep's Pelts with the and remove all fleshy matter from the inner clean the wool with soft soap, and wash clean.

When the pelt is perfectly free from all fatty and oily matter, apply the following mixture to the flesh side, viz.: For each pelt take common salt and ground alum, + pound each, and + ounce borax; dissolve Tanning. When the skin of an an- the whole in 1 quart hot water, and when imal, carefully deprived of hair, fat, sufficiently cool to bear the hand, add rye and other impurities, is immersed in a dilute meal to make it like thick paste, and spread solution of tannic acid, the animal matter grad- the mixture on the flesh side of the pelt. ually combines with the acid as it penetrates Fold the pelt lengthwise, and let it remain inwards, forming a perfectly insoluble com- 2 weeks in an airy and shady place; then repound, which resists putrefaction completely; move the paste from the surface, wash, and this is tanned leather. In practice, lime wa- dry.

When nearly dry, scrape the flesh side ter is used for cleansing and preparing the with a crescent-shaped knife. The softness of skin; water acidulated with oil of vitriol (sul- the pelt depends much on the amount of phuric acid) for raising or opening the pores; working it receives. and an infusion of oak bark or some other astringent matter for the source of the tannic Mats. Make a strong lather with hot water, 647. To Prepare Sheep Skins for acid. The process is necessarily a slow and let it stand till cold; wash the fresh skin one, as dilute solutions only can be safely in it, carefully squeezing out all the dirt from Skins intended for curriers, to be the wool; wash it in cold water till all the dressed for "uppers," commonly require soap is taken out. Dissolve a pound each used. 1 TANNING. salt and alum in 2 gallons hot water, and put bran made moist with warm water; rub until the skin into a tub sufficient to cover it; let quite dry, and afterwards with dry bran. it soak for 12 hours, and hang it over a pole The wet bran should be put on with flannel, to drain. When well drained, stretch it care- and the dry with a piece of book-muslin. fully on a board to dry, and stretch several The light furs, in addition to the above, times while drying. Before it is quite dry, should be well rubbed with magnesia, or a sprinkle on the flesh side 1 ounce each of piece of bookmuslin, after the bran process. Or dry flour may be used instead of wet bran.

Ermine takes longer than Minevar to clean.

They should be rubbed against the way of the fur. ing. Furs are usually much improved by 653. To Improve Furs by Stretchby Stretchfinely pulverized alum and saltpetre, rubbing it in well. Try if the wool be firm on the skin; if not, let it remain a day or two, then rub again with alum; fold the flesh sides together and hang in the shade for 2 or 3 days, turning them over each day till quite dry.

Scrape the flesh side with a blunt knife, and stretching, which may be managed as follows: rub it with pumice or rotten stone. Very To 1 pint of soft water add 3 ounces salt; disbeautiful mittens can be made of lamb skins solve; with this solution sponge the inside of prepared in this way. 648. To Tan Muskrat Skins with til it becomes thoroughly saturated; then lay the skin (taking care not to wet the fur) unthe

Fur On. First wash the hide in warm it carefully on a board with the fur side down-

Fur On. First wash the hide in warm it carefully on a board with the fur side downwater, and remove all fatty and fleshy matter. wards, in its natural disposition; then stretch Then soak it in a liquor prepared as follows: as much as it will bear, and to the required To 10 gallons cold soft water add 8 quarts shape, and fasten with small tacks. The drywheat bran, pint old soap, 1 ounce borax; ing may be wheat bran, 1/2 pint old soap, 1 ounce borax; ing may be quickened by placing the skin a by adding 2 ounces sulphuric acid the soaking little distance from the fire or stove. may be done in one-half the time. If the hides have not been salted, add 1 pint salt. Green Clothing from Moth. Moths deposit their 654. Το Preserve Furs and Woolen hides should not be soaked more than 8 or 10 eggs in the early spring. This, therefore, is hours. Dry ones should soak till very soft. the time to put away furs and woolens for For tan liquor, to 10 gallons warm soft water the summer . add bushel bran; stir well and let stand in maggot of the moth that does the mischief It is not the moth, but the a warm room till it ferments. Then add with furs and woolens. To effectually preslowly 2+ pounds sulphuric acid; stir all the while.

Muskrat hides should remain in about 4 hours; then take out and rub with a fleshing knife-( an old chopping knife with the edge taken off will do.) Then work it over a beam until entirely dry.