CHAPTER XIX 

 FARMERS' PRODUCE 



Instructing farmers in the best methods of preparing for market their 

 hides, calf-skins, fox-skins, and rabbit-skins. 



A FEW lines instructing farmers on the best methods of preparing 

 a market for their hides, calf-skins, rabbit-skins, etc., will be found 

 useful. 



We will first take hides. All hides are trimmed and swept 

 free of all salt, etc., before being offered for sale by public auction. 

 Most of the extremities are removed, the legs cut off just above 

 the hock on the hind-legs, and above the knees on the front, 

 so that the " pockets " in the hide will be removed, thus enabling 

 the tanner to roll the hide out smoothly when tanned. The 

 tail is cut off, also the forehead, lips, and udder, if any. (See 

 diagram.) 



The selling brokers have to allow the buyers " tare," usually 

 4 per cent., though in Queensland they have to allow 6 per cent., 

 or say 2lb., and 3 lb., weight on a 5o-lb. hide, 



Hides consigned to town for sale are opened out and trimmed 

 by the brokers, and any salt or foreign matter is shaken from 

 them. They are then weighed and lotted into their various 

 qualities and weights. Trouble is often caused between con- 

 signors and brokers owing to the difference between the invoice 

 weight and the weight originally consigned. 



In dry weather a hide will lose 4 or 5 lb. weight during a short 

 railway journey, especially if it is half green or sloppy. The 

 shaking it gets in the trucks causes the water to run from it 



J68 



