84 THE nUNTER AND TRAPPER. 



it out to its full size, and spread on some soft grease, or 

 any animal oil, until it is well oiled through. Then heat 

 uj) the suds again, and aj^ply half as much more soap, and 

 put in the skin again and work it well for a time, and let 

 it lie twenty- four hours longer. Then take it out and pull 

 it dry, as before. For all doe skins, and for yearling 

 bucks, this will be enough, but old buck skins must go in 

 once more, and when pulled dry again they will be as soft 

 as velvet. 



The best grease to use is butter, which is the greatest 

 softener in the world, and a less quantity will answer than 

 of any other grease. 



When the skin is dressed and pulled dry, you may apply 

 ochre to make it yellow, or hang it u-p in a smoke-house 

 and smoke it with a smudge of rotten w^ater elm, which 

 will make it a beautiful reddish yellow. 



Another process is to let the skin lie in clear water until 

 the hair will slip off, and then grain it on the beam. This 

 is a very good way. I have practised it, and found the 

 leather as tough as that of the green hide. 



Take the brains out of the head of a deer, or of a hog, 

 tie them up in a cloth, and put them into a gallon of 

 water, and boil for an hour ; then squeeze the cloth so as 

 to press through as mucli as you can ; let it stand until 

 you can barely hold your hand in it without scalding ; 

 then put in the grained skin, working it continually for 

 two or three minutes ; then take it out, wring it, and pull 

 it dry. If not soft enough, heat up and put in again ; 



