10 Journal or the JjErARXMENT of Agriculture. — July, 1922. 



blood need to bear this in mind. Several of their clips are just 

 on the " bare" side. In a few cases they are no more than super 

 60's quality. For top-making* purposes these wools will serve admir- 

 ablj^, but an increase of four to six points in fineness would make 

 them all the better. 



Skins, Raw-Mde Leather and Riems: 

 Farm Mannfacture. 



In our country of vast distances and remotely situated farms, 

 the dwellers in outlying parts — usually, of course, the farmer — have 

 often to turn their hand to many things that others in the ordinary 

 course relegate to those whose special avocation in life it is to perform 

 such classes of work. Nor is it only lack of opportunity that calls 

 for the ingenuity of the farmer, but often the expediency that 

 requires the many economies which alone will bring working expenses 

 within the compass of his means. And in the Union, where game is 

 still plentiful and which is devoted largelj'^ to pastoral pursuits, it is 

 clear that there will be few farmers who at one time or another will 

 not need to know something about the tanning and braying of skins, 

 and the manufacture of raw-hide leather and riems. It is with a 

 view therefore to assisting the farmer in this section of his home 

 industry that an article has been prepared by Mr. Schlupp, the 

 Entomologist, and Mr. Mackinnon, the Field Instructor in Practical 

 Agriculture, at the School of Agriculture and Experiment Station, 

 Potchefstroom, and is published, with illustrations, in this issue of 

 the Journal. Many thousands of wild animals, large and small, are 

 killed every year in South Africa, and their skins, which are used 

 for a variety of well-known purposes, form a source of farm produc- 

 tion of no small value. The home tanning and braying of these skins 

 is not a very intricate business, and the advice given by the writers 

 and directions how to proceed siiould enable Ihose who undertake this 

 work to turn out articles of a creditable nature and of good quality. 

 The manufacture of raw-hide leather is also carried out on many 

 South African farms, hides of various kinds being used, but parti- 

 cularly those from cattle and other domestic animals. The several 

 processes in vogue are discussed by the writers, who point out 

 the methods that will ensure the production of good leather, lliem- 

 making, in particular, is a common practice, and there are few, if 

 any, who have not at some time made their own riems for use on 

 the farm. There are those who, undoubtedly, are adept in the process 

 they have found most suitable in their own experience, but the many 

 useful hints contained in the article referred to should contain some- 

 thing of service to all, and enable every one to produce a good class 

 article. Mention is made elsewhere in this issue of the Journal to 

 the loss the country sustains annually through the bad flaying of 

 hides. Careful methods, without anj^ appreciable expenditure of 

 more time or labour, would soon remove the disability the country 

 now suffers from this source. In like manner the application of the 

 right method by the farmer in the various home uses to which he 

 puts his skins and hides will be so much gained in the greater service 

 and pleasure the superior article will bring him. It is a standard 

 of work that is within the power of all to attain. 



