58 JOUBNAL OF THE DePAETMENT OF AGRICULTURE. — JuLY, 1922. 



then take it out, wring it, and lian.s;- it on a rope or rieni for another 

 twelve hours. This last soakino- and dryinii' should be repeated until 

 the desired degree of softness is obi a i nod. Tlio usual stretching, 

 lubbing-, and twisting' completes the work. 



Braying the Skins. — Eeference has already l)een made to l)raying', 

 which follows the taniiin,!>- process. Braying consists of stretching, 

 twisting, rubbing, and rolling the skin to make it soft and pliable. 

 It also makes the skin much lighter in colour. In the case of skins 

 of ordinary size the work is done with the liands. Large skins may 

 be folded and trampling with the feet added to the braying procedure. 

 Some of the tanning agents used tent to make the skin soft, but a 

 certain amount of braying>is necessary. In the case of large thick 

 skins a great deal is required. 



Althougli during the tanning process fat is scraped from tlie 

 liide, fat is added during the braying process. It is, of course, api)lied 

 only to the flesh side, none to the fur side. Its function is to soften 

 the skin, which sliould be well rubbed so tliat the fat is absorbed. 

 Fat is absohitely necessary in the case of large hides. Skins of 

 moderate size require only a moderate amount; small ones require 

 little or none. We have used a good grade of d\ibbin as a substitute 

 for fat with satisfactory restilts. 



The Home Manufacture of Raw-hide Leather. 



Tlie manufacture of raw-hide leather, and especially of riems, is 

 a very common practice on many South African farms. Hides of 

 various lands are used, those from cattle and other domestic animals 

 predominating. The worlv is done in summer, and also in winter if 

 weather conditions permit, 



(1) Loosening the Hair on the Hides. 



Hair on the hides may be loosened by several different processes. 

 One method consists of painting the hair side with a 30 per cent, 

 solution of sodium sulphide, thickened with lime. The skin is then 

 folded up, hair side in, and left to lie for a few hours, when the hair 

 can be removed by scraping. In another process (a clieaner one) the 

 skin is immersed in a vessel containing milk of lime. The liquid is 

 stirred daily, and after a few days tiie hair on the skin becomes loose. 



Many farmers, however, prefer the old-fashioned process, as they 

 believe that lime has a tendency to cause brittleness in the hide, an 

 undesirable quality, especially if the leather is to be used for voor- 

 slags. If a skin has been treated with lime it should be washed after- 

 wards and then well soaked in a mixture of wheat bran and water to 

 remove the lime. The methods described hereunder are those in 

 vogue in the Western Proviiice of the Cape, a region well known for 

 the good quality of its raw leather. The latter is produced without 

 the aid of chemicals. 



Tlie processes for loosening the hair are quite simple, and depend 

 on the setting uj) of decom])osition in the hide, which causes the hair 

 to become loose. Tliere is an element of danger in the procedure, as, 

 unless the decomposition is checked at just the right stage, the hide is 

 injured. It has been noted that the strongest leather is obtained 

 froni those skins from which the hair is removed with the greatest 

 difficulty; h, other words, from the skins whicli have undergone the 

 least decomposition, 



