422 REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 



out, shaved, scoured, stuffed with tallow, set out, dried, and whitened, 

 and then blacked on the flesh side with a preparation of vinegar, iron 

 filings, and lampblack. Calf -skins are not exported, but our tanners 

 are making them of such excellent quality that they have almost 

 entirely put a stop to the imports of French and German skins, which 

 until recently came here to the value of $3,000,000 to $5,000,000 an- 

 nually. Ooze calf is tanned like other skins, but prepared so as to 

 show very little grain,, and the fleshed side is run over an emery 

 wheel. It is finished in colors. Calf-skins are also tanned in japonica, 

 shaved, colored, "and made into gloves. 



UPPER-LEATHER. 



To make this leather cow-hides of a light average weight are con- 

 sidered preferable. These are washed, fleshed, put in lime five days 

 in vats with rocking-wheels, then unhaired and thrown in a bate of 

 hen manure one day, then wheeled in weak liquors two hours to 

 form the grain. After this they are put in liquors and changed every 

 day, giving stronger liquors, from time to time, for about three 

 months, then skived and split, scoured, stuffed, whitened, and black- 

 ened on the flesh side. The split which is taken off is stuffed with 

 tallow and finished on either side, according to the purpose for which 

 it is wanted. 



COW-HIDE FANCY LEATHER. 



Green cow-hides are tanned 'and finished into imitation Russia 

 leather for book-binders' use. These hides are tanned the same as 

 for grain leather, but before finishing are split into three parts. The 

 flesh side, after being split, has what is termed a leveling split taken 

 off. This is very thin and used for cheap trunk covering. The re- 

 maining portion is rolled on both sides and finished into ' ' flexible 

 soles." The grain side is colored red and finished in imitation Rus- 

 sia leather. 



Raw steer or cow hides, tawed in oil, are made into belting, lace- 

 leather, picker and fly-net leather, whips, washers, hame strings, and 

 halters. The process is patented, 



FORMULA FOR TANNING AND FINISHING CHICAGO OIL-GRAIN LEATHER 

 FOR BOOTS AND SHOES. 



For the best manufacture slaughter hides are necessary. These 

 are soaked in water to remove dirt and salt, carefully fleshed, then 

 limed to. remove the hair. After removing the hair they are again 

 soaked in water and put in a bate of pigeon manure and water to ex- 

 tract the lime. After this is effected they are again washed and put 

 in mild liquor, where they remain for something less than two months. 

 When they are thoroughly tanned they are taken out and run through 

 a machine to split to the desired thickness. They are stuffed in a re- 

 volving wheel with soft grease, hung up to dry, and when sufficiently 

 dry and firm they are stained with a preparation which in combination 

 with the free tannin in the leather forms a fixed black; then they are 

 pebbled with a roll having cut in it the desired figures. They are 

 then boarded, or softened by rolling between two cork boards. Some 

 preparation is then put on to give the desired finish or gloss to the 

 leather. Then the leather is ready for market. 



