BREEDING AND CARE OF RABBITS 



injured at all by the juices being brought out of the 

 skins by the mixture. If the rabbit skins have been 

 properly worked, the skins should be tanned in two 

 weeks. When the mixture has gone entirely through 

 the skin it is cured. Rinse well in lukewarm water to 

 remove all of the mixture, and then wash in strong, 

 lukewarm soap suds. Use a washboard, just as in 

 washing a garment. If the fur is badly matted, comb 

 with a coarse comb while under water. Wring and 

 shake the water out of the fur and hang up tail end 

 down in the sun to dry. When partly dry begin work- 

 ing the skin and work it until entirely dry. The more 

 the skin is pulled and worked while drying the^ softer 

 it will be, and the same applies all through the tanning 

 process, the more it is worked the quicker it will tan. 

 A good way to work a tough skin fur is to pull it 

 around a square edged post or over the edge of a 

 board, flesh side in. A little warm neatsfoot oil, 

 worked into the skin after it is dry, will make it softer 

 and help to keep it so, should the fur get very wet. 

 If the skin has been properly tanned it should be per- 

 fectly white and soft as kid. If not so, put it back 

 into the pickle and let it remain until it is soft. Do 

 not use hot or very warm water for a green hide will 

 burn in either. Lukewarm water is the proper kind. 

 To tell when the skin is cured : When it is drying 

 after being washed, the edges or places where it has 

 been worked will look something rawhide, that is, 

 smooth, rather glear and of a darker color. If when 

 pulled tight and rubbed hard over the knuckles, it 

 stretches out and tun'.s white, the tanning mixture has 

 gone through, and the skin is cured. A pretty tan 



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