18 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



to exclude rain, and the skins hung over them while fresh, stretching them out with 

 the hands as much as possible. They will take two or three days to dry, according 

 to the temperature of the air, and should then be sent to the skin merchant without 

 delay, packed in sacks. 



Curing skins, if carried out properly, is difficult and unremunerative work, 

 unless the skins are cured in quantities, and even then expert treatment is necessary 

 to obtain really good results. If desired, however, a few skins may be cured for 

 home use in the following simple manner, after having been first treated as above 

 described: With a mixture of one teaspoonful of alum and a tablespoonful of salt 

 in a pint of water, wet the skin on the leather side at intervals of a few hours until 

 thoroughly soaked, after which give the skin a good rasping with a blunt knife and 

 dry in the air. Then rub a little fat into it by the fire. The fur may subsequently 

 be cleaned with bran or sawdust rubbed in with the hand. 



Another process, rather more troublesome but giving better results, is as fol- 

 lows : After scraping the skin and removing the fatty matter from the inside, soak 

 in warm water for several hours. Next mix equal parts of borax, saltpetre, and 

 sulphate of soda in the proportion of .about y 2 oz. of each, with sufficient water to 

 make a thin paste; spread this with a brush over the inside of the skin, applying 

 more on the thicker parts than on the thinner ; double the skin together, flesh side, 

 and put in a cool place. After standing twenty-four hours, wash the skin clean and 

 apply in the same manner as before a mixture of 1 oz. washing-soda, % oz. borax, 

 and 2 oz. hard white soap, melted slowly together without being allowed to boil, 

 fold together, and put away in a warm place for twenty-four hours. After this, 

 dissolve 4 oz. alum, 8 oz. salt, 'and 2 oz. saleratus in sufficient hot rain-water, and 

 when cool enough not to scald the hands, well rub this into the skin, hang up to dry, 

 and repeat the operation several times till the skin is sufficiently soft. Lastly, 

 smooth the inside with fine sandpaper and pumice-stone. 



The writer has had excellent results when using the following method of curing : 

 The skin, after removing pieces of fat, was moistened with a damp cloth dipped in a 

 solution of 1 oz. sulphuric acid to 1 gallon of water, to which add % Ib. table-salt. 

 After thoroughly dampening the skin side the pelt was folded, flesh side touching, 

 and placed on a shelf for two days. This was done three times at intervals of two 

 days, and the skin then washed in warm -water, wrung out, and then stretched and 

 tacked on a board for a few days. After a little ''working" the skin was quite 

 soft and pliable. 



TREATMENT FOR SICKNESS AND DISEASE. 



As with all other classes of live stock, it is desirable that disease amongst 

 rabbits be prevented as much as possible, thus obviating the nearly always profitless 

 attempt at trying to cure sick stock. It cannot be too strongly urged that in the 

 case of utility rabbit-keeping it does not pay to doctor diseased stock. Breeders of 

 this class cannot afford to breed from stock that has been " cured." Sooner or later 

 nature will demand payment. 



It behoves breeders lucky enough to possess thoroughly healthy stock to keep 

 up this desirable condition by paying strict attention to quality of feeding-stuffs ; 

 not to overfeed; to give sufficient hutch or yard room; regular cleansing of hutch 

 and surroundings; provision of plenty of light, especially sunlight; ventilation. 

 Regular attention to these points means a minimum of disease outbreaks. 



Should an infectious disease break out, immediate Mieasures should be taken 

 to prevent same from spreading. If one hasn't the courage to kill and destroy 

 affected animals, they should be immediately isolated, and, if necessary, all hutches 

 and rabbitries thoroughly sprayed with a good disinfectant. Limewashing will also 

 hell) matters. After handling diseased rabbits, one"s hands should be washed with 

 a good disinfectant solution. The writer has found Lifebuoy or carbolic soap excel- 

 lent for this purpose. 



