THE COMMERCIAL ASPECT OF BARK-PEELING. 443 



XXVIII. The Commercial Asjmct of Bark-Peeling. Bj 

 A. T. Williamson, Corstoi-phiue. 



The altei'ed conditions in the manufacture of leather as now 

 carried on, compared with those of only recent years, have had the 

 effect of putting an altogether different aspect on the question of 

 bark-peeling and preserving for industrial purposes. The prices 

 with which we were familiar in bygone times, as readily obtain- 

 able for this commodity, are not likely again to be realised. As 

 is well known, the cause of the greatly reduced price of bark 

 is chiefly owing to the introduction some years ago of foreign 

 substitutes for bark in the manufacture of leather. These are 

 now so largely imported at a paying price, that their use effects 

 a considerable saving to the tanner in the cost of his manufactures. 

 The adoption of those substitutes has necessitated the construction 

 by the tanner of new appliances in his manufactory, altogether 

 unsuited for the application of bark in the preservation of hides. 

 This shuts out to a great extent the possibility of returning to 

 the old methods of tanning, and thereby restricts the consumption 

 of bark. Unless the ingenuity of the inventor, or scientist, can 

 discover some other medium by which its properties can be 

 utilised in the industrial world, this restricted demand is likely 

 to continue. 



This revolution in leather manufacture has destroyed the 

 possibilities of the bark of any tree possessing only in a small 

 degree the astringent properties necessaiy for leather curing, 

 being supplied at a price anything like equivalent to the cost of 

 production. Two varieties, however, — viz., the oak and the larch, 

 possess peculiarly rich astringent properties, and for the manufac- 

 tui-e of particular qualities of leather they are still indispensable. 

 The price of these barks, notwithstanding their more limited 

 consumption, has been maintained at a point that leaves reason- 

 able expectation that they may be profitably produced. The 

 object of this paper is to consider fully the cost of production of 

 oak bark, and see if, when thoroughly inquired into, the current 

 prices obtainable yield the lucrative returns which a superficial 

 glance at the subject would lead one to suppose. 



In the case of larch bark, it must at once be admitted that 

 although the price is much lower the profit is substantial, as not 

 only are the expenses of peeling and harvesting lighter, but even 



