i<to 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[April, 
not suiell very agreeably. At the tannery 
they are first put into soak vats, which are filled 
with water only. Here the salt is dissolved out 
of them, and all dirt and sand which adheres to 
Fig'. 2. — COLLECTING TAN BARK. 
the hair is loosened and separated. They then 
go to the lime vats, figure 4, in which they re- 
main eight days in strong lime water, being oc- 
casionally turned and moved from one vat to 
another, by means of hooks fastened to the ends 
of long poles. This lime water loosens the 
hair so that when, after the lime bath, the hides 
are put upon the " horse," figure 5, and scraped, 
Fig. 4. — THE LIME VATS. 
the hair is all removed with case. The flesh 
which may remain upon them, and all rough 
tags, are shaved off with the sharp edge of the 
knife which is seen in the workman's hands. 
After the scraping the hides are "put into other 
Tats in which there is a solution of hen manure 
for the purpose of freeing them from lime. 
Here they remain six days, when they are bath- 
ed in a somewhat rough manner, by means of 
■wheels similar in shape to water wheels or 
paddle wheels of a steam boat. These wheels 
Fig. 6.— BATHING WHEELS. 
are shown at figure 6. After this process they 
become very soft and smooth. They are then 
put into the vats of tan liquor, figure 7, and 
here the process of tanning really commences, 
all the previous processes being merely prepara- 
tory. The tan liquor contains, as is well 
known, a strong astringent principle, which it 
has dissolved out of the bark. This astringent 
principle is called tannin. It has the chemical 
property of rendering the gelatinous part of 
the hide insoluble in water, and almost inde- 
structible so long as it is 
kept dry. It is this which 
changes the hide into 
leather — a chemical union 
of the tannin is formed 
with the glue or gelatine 
of the skin. A long time 
is required for this change 
to take place, and the hides 
remain in the tan liquor 
for three months before 
it is complete. They 
are, however, handled 
many times during that 
period, and are removed 
frequently from one vat 
in which the tan liquor 
has become exhausted, into others filled with 
fresh liquor. When this process of tanning is 
complete, and the hide has become leather, 
nothing remains but to dry it in the upper 
rooms of the tannery, where currents of air are 
admitted through slatted or open windows. It 
then appears as a yellowish brown skin, hard, 
tough, and flexible, and thick or thin according 
to the kind of hide which 
■ I . has l)een tanned. It 
is then split down the 
BjS-. . middle and becomes two 
. *A_ sides of leather. Heavy 
Sm§£ ox-hide or cow-hide is 
iiliij' ma< i e m *° SCMe leather; 
light cow-hide, two- 
year-old hides or kips, 
and calfskins arc colored 
black and curried and 
used for upper leather; 
the best of the cow or 
ox hides are selected for 
harness leather, which 
requires not only great 
strength, but great solidity and density, to fit 
it for the use to which it is to be hereafter put. 
Farmers' Clubs. 
"We notice with great satisfaction the increase 
of these institutions in all parts of the country, 
and notably in the New England States, and the 
provision they are making for the entertain- 
ment of rural communities. They are so well 
managed in many places that they contribute a 
very important clement to 
the social and intellectual 
life of the people. They 
are taking the place of 
lyceums, and to some ex- 
tent of balls and fashion- 
able parties. Their infor- 
mal and business charac- 
ter makes them attractive 
to man}' who think they 
have uo time for visiting 
and social enjoyments. 
Pomology and floricul- 
ture receive a due share 
of attention, and make 
the meetings acceptable 
to villagers, who have only fruit yards, gardens, 
and conservatories. Indeed, the most flour- 
ishing clubs generally have their center in the 
village, and the winter meetings are held in 
some public hall. Sometimes a course of lec- 
tures is given which draws full houses from 
village and country. Often there are discus- 
sions upon questions of practical interest which 
bring out the experience of the best cultivators 
in the town. Exhibitions of fruit and flowers 
and exchanges of grafts and seeds and eggs are 
Fig. 3. — GRINDING THE BARK. 
frequent adjuncts of these meetings, and not 
the least important of their advantages. The 
educating power of these clubs is very great. 
They quicken thought in many ways. They 
direct the attention to the best methods of hus- 
bandry. They serve to economize time and 
labor, and introduce new fruits, flowers, imple- 
ments, and stock. They break up the dull rou- 
-1. 5. — SCRAPING THE HIDES. 
tine of the farmer's life, and are doing some- 
thing to make farm life attractive to the young. 
We have often called the attention of our readers 
to the value of these clubs in past years, and 
are glad to see that the good seed sown is 
springing up in so many places. The State 
Board of Agriculture in Connecticut has been 
doing a good work the past winter, in holding 
meetings in connection with ihese clubs in va- 
rious parts of the State, for lectures and discus- 
sions. The meetings have generally been con- 
Fig. 7. — THE TAN VATS. 
i iiiumiiinnrrrr 
fined to one day in a place, holding three ses- 
sions. Lectures have been given by Professors 
Johnson and Atwater, and by the Secretary, 
T. S. Gold, with discussions at the close. It 
would do much to popularize the work of our 
boards of agriculture if they .would follow the 
example of Connecticut in all the States. 
