PICKING BAND BUTTS 91 



added to these liquors as needed. The butts next pass to 

 duster rounds of four pits, in which they are dusted down 

 in a liquor of 20 for four weeks with 1-2 cwt. of oak bark. 

 The liquor is obtained from the leaches, and afterwards run 

 alternately to the leaches and to the first handlers. As 

 many as six layers are now given of 20-25 strength, in 

 which the butts are dusted down with 2-3 cwt. oak bark 

 for three weeks. The layer liquors are received from and 

 returned to the leaches, which are made from the " fishings " 

 from the layers. The tannage lasts, therefore, 27 weeks, of 

 which 1 8 weeks (two-thirds) are in layers. 



Shorter tannages are now often given, using stronger 

 liquors, much as in ordinary dressing leather. 



The tanned butts are rough dried, and then wet in for 

 shaving. They are thoroughly scoured, flesh and grain. 

 They are next drummed for three-quarters of an hour in 

 sumach, struck out and hung up to samm. Hand stuffing 

 is best, to avoid any tendering owing to high temperature, but 

 drum stuffing is also used. After setting out and stoning 

 on the grain they are stuffed with warm cod oil and laid 

 away in grease for several weeks, re-oiling occasionally. 

 They may be stained before stuffing. 



REFERENCE. 

 Bennett, "Manufacture of Leather," pp. 203, 310. 



