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X Ne» Process for clearing Feathers from their animal Oil. 

 By Mrs. Jane Richardson, IFillis's Place, Chelsea*. 



L the session of the Society of Art., Sec. 1305, twenty 

 guineas were adjudged to Mrs. Richardson, being the pre- 

 mium offered for the best process for clearing feathers. 

 The Process. 

 Take for every gallon of clean water, one pound of quick- 

 lime ; mix them well together, and when the undissolved 

 lime is precipitated in fine powder, pour off the clear lime- 

 water for use, at the time it is wanted. 



Put the feathers to be cleared in another tub, and add to 

 them a quantity of the clear lime-water, sufficient to cover 

 the feathers about three inches when well immersed and 

 stirred about therein. 



The feathers, when thoroughly moistened, will sink down, 

 and should remain in the lime-water three or four days, 

 after which the foul liquor should be separated from the 

 feathers bv laying them on a sieve. 



The feathers should be afterwards well washed in clean 

 water and dried upon nets; the meshes about the fineness ot 



cabbage-nets. 



The feathers must from time to time be shaken upon the 

 nets, and as they dry will fall through the. meshes, and are 

 to be collected for use. _ 



The admission of air will be serviceable in the drying. The 

 whole process will be completed in about three weeks ; after 

 being prepared as above mentioned, they will only require 

 beating for use. 



Mr. Jolly, poulterer, of Charing-cross, attended a com- 

 mittee of the society appointed to inspect the leal hers, and 

 stated that Mrs. Richardson had bought from him forty 

 pounds weight of feathers, in the state they were plucked 

 from dead geese, and m such a condition that it they had 

 been kept in the bag only four days, without berag clumsy 



• From Tritwrfrru oftht Society of Arts, * 



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