96 



Agricultural Gazette of N .S.W 



[Feb. 2, 1920. 



The following schedule of the tests will indicate the scope of the investi- 

 gations : — 



Experiment A. — Drying in the sun : After the skins are stripped, they 

 shall be laid lengthways (head to tail) without overlapping, flesh side upwards, 

 extremities well exposed, on half-round rafters 6 inches to 8 inches in 

 diameter. 



Experiment 5. —Drying in shade : The same number of skins as [in 

 Experiment A, to be laid out in exactly the same manner, at the same time, 

 and dried in a shed providing good shade, free from sun's rays. 



Experiment C. — Painting sun-dried skins : When thoroughly dry, half 

 the sun-dried skins to be painted with a solution consisting of 1 lb. of arsenate 

 of soda to every 2 gallons of water, to which has been added 1 drachm bitter 

 aloes dissolved in an egg-cup full of water. 



Experiment D. — Painting shade-dried skins : A similar number of shade- 

 dried skins to be painted with the solution as used in Experiment C 



Experiment E. — Salting and Curing : A corresponding number of skins, 

 after flaying, to be rubbed on the flesh side with salt, then thoroughly sprayed 

 with a 2 per cent, solution of disinfectants of the type of Lysol, that prepara- 

 tion being unprocurable. 



Tanning Results. 



In order to carry the investigations as far as possible, the skins, in separate 

 lots as enumerated, were forwarded for treatment to a firm of fellmongers, 

 Messrs. Thomas Elliott & Co., who co-operated with the Department in the 

 work. In their report they give the results of their personal observations 

 and also set their valuation against each lot. Before proceeding to 

 review the particulars, however, the mode of procedure in the conduct of 

 the trials may be briefly reviewed. 



The experiments were commenced about the luiddle of February, 1919> 

 the skins being taken week by week, as the sheep were killed, up till about 

 the end of July. When a suitable number had been collected in each lot they 

 were forwarded for treatment, each lot being kept separate. Treatment 

 consisted of fellmongering, tanning, and preparing the skins. It is not 

 necessary to dilate upon the methods adopted by the fellmongers in preparing 

 and classifying the skins, except to say that an equal number of skins were 

 dealt with by the different modes of treatment and that deductions are based 

 on the quality and value of the basils in the prepared state. 



The following is a resume of the value of the ])elts in their prepared state, 

 all fellmongering and tanning charges being deducted : — 



