BUREAU OF CHEMISTRY. 263 



of chromed hide powder," '• The explosiveness of tannery dusts." 

 "The determination of Epsom salts in leather." and "Extraction of 

 oils and greases from leather." 



TANNING ON THE FARM. 



In response to the numerous inquiries received daily on methods 

 for home tanning, work on small-scale tanning was conducted to 

 the fullest extent possible under the conditions and means available. 

 Some very satisfactory leather was made in the laboratorj', both 

 b}" the chrome-tanning process and with vegetable tanning extracts, 

 and experiments were also made on tanning fur skins and hides 

 with the hair on. Detailed directions were prepared on making 

 chrome-tanned leather and bark-tanned sole and harness leathers on a 

 small scale, and about 6,000 copies of these directions were feent out in 

 mimeographed form, together with the directions for making alum- 

 tanned leather for belt lacings which were prepared last year. The 

 demand for information on home tanning has continued to increase 

 so that it has been necessary to submit the information so far avail- 

 able for publication as a department circular. 



METHODS FOR MAKING LONGER LASTING LEATHERS. 



The limited work under way in this bureau on leather should 

 be expanded into a broad project on tanning materials, tanning, and 

 leather. Agriculture produces the raw materials and uses more of 

 the finished products than does any other industry. Work of great 

 economic and practical importance needs to be done. The total 

 number of hides and skins used in making leather in this country 

 in 1914 was more than 140,000,000, costing the tanners, it is esti- 

 mated. $240,000,000 plus $45,000,000 worth of tanning, currying, and 

 finishing materials. The factory value of leather goods made from 

 these materials is estimated at more than $650,000,000 for which the 

 ultimate user probably paid at least $1,000,000,000. It is well known 

 that there are large preventable losses in the handling and use of 

 hides and tanning and finishing materials, and that the quality and 

 kind of finished leather and leather products and the processes in- 

 volved can be much improved. 



There is need for better and more durable leathers and for knowl- 

 edge of how to make, test, and recognize them. Better methods of 

 tanning should materially reduce the cost of shoes and harness to 

 the farmer. Country butchers and farmers now supply about 30 

 per cent of the hides and skins used in this country. Carelessness, 

 lack of knowledge of taking off, curing and selling these hides and 

 skins cause the loss of about one-third of the value to the farmer. 

 These losses are at least $15,000,000 annually. The proper handling 

 of country domestic hides and skins would materially decrease the 

 quantity imported. The long-used vegetable tanning materials, 

 which are direct products of the forest and the farm, are totally 

 inadequate under present conditions to supply the country's needs. 

 Others should be sought and developed. Through better processes 

 and more intelligent care many millions of dollars can be conserved 

 annually in leather goods. As important as these materials now are 



25684— AG R 1923 18 



