80 



" To avoid the last mentioned source of error, it 

 wiil be prudent to reserve a piece out of every 

 batch which undergoes the swelhng process, to 

 ascertain (by drying and weighing without tan- 

 ning,) whetlier the remaining pieces destined for 

 experiment had lost any thing in that operation. 

 As such a loss is only likely to occur in strong 

 hides, from carelessness, in the usual operations of 

 lining, washing, &c. the tanner has it completely 

 in his power, by proper attention, to prepare his 

 own test skins in the most perfect manner. Per- 

 haps the calf skins that I operated on had been 

 somewhat injured in these processes : Whereas, if 

 they had been carefully treated, they might have 

 remained strong enough. This is a point which 

 peculiarly rests with the tanner to ascertain cor- 

 rectly, as a matter of economy and convenience. 

 If calf skins be really strong enough to retain all 

 their substance from one weigliing to the other, 

 tanners who manufacture upper-leather v;ill be 

 much more at home in trials made with them. In 

 Ireland, I believe, there is quite as much of it 

 made as of sole leather. 



" In the shaving of strong hides, it is indifferent to 

 the currier in what shape he takes off the pieces. 

 A tanner who attends him during that operation, 

 may obtain shavings of the exact size he wants, 

 and therefore, need never sacrifice an entire hide 

 to the experiment.* 



* In a short time, the preparation and sale of these test skins will 

 probably become a regular branch of trade, in connexion with the 

 manufacture of parchment, &c. Tanners may then, without trouble 

 or loss of time, obtain for a few pence the means of regulating the 



