FARMERS' PRODUCE 171 



the bottom hide, head to head, and point to point. A few hand- 

 fuls of salt should be spread over the hairy side before placing 

 the third hide hair down on the second, and so on. 



From seven to ten days should be sufficient to cure hides 

 in this way. 



When preparing for dispatch, leave some salt in each hide 

 and fold in two right down the back, flesh to flesh. Next turn 

 the belly edges together over towards the back and fold, first 

 the head and then the tail towards the centre, finally folding 

 into one compact parcel. In this way any dirt or blood on 

 the hair cannot possibly come in contact with the flesh side 

 and so discolour it. 



All that remains to be done is to tie the hide with wire or 

 binder twine, attach a label correctly addressed to the broker 

 and bearing the sender's name on it as well. Such labels are 

 usually supplied by the broker on application. 



Many consignors are somewhat careless over this important 

 proceeding of correctly labelling packets consigned, and con- 

 sequently the losses in transit and through wrongful delivery 

 are considerable. 



FOX-SKINS. 



Fox-skins are often sent to town for sale, with the brush 

 not split open. Very often the "pelt sweats and the fur comes 

 out. The brush should be split right down to the end and tacked 

 out so that the air can get at it and dry it like the rest of the 

 pelt. 



A system of classing is adopted in these, as in other skins placed 

 on the market for sale, due regard being paid to the size of the 

 skin, the quality of the hair, and also to that important feature, 

 the a brush," those with the brush split open being worth 

 considerably more than those not so treated. 



To prepare them for market, the skins should be pegged out 

 but not over-stretched in a shady place, till the flesh side of 

 the skin has a nice even-coloured " crust " on it. Any fat should 

 be removed. The ears and head of the skin should be left 



