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Show TANNING A SHEEP I'ELT Freshly removed sheep pelts may I be reudily tanned by anyone if the following instructions given by the Wyoming Agriculture Extension Service is followed. Usually it is not worth while to work with a pelt that bus an execs- ; sive amount of fat and flesh sticking to it, or that has wool more than two inches long. Trim off the head and other worthless parts and scrape the flesh side with a dull knife to remove I fat or flesh. Care must be taken not j to tear or cut the skin. Wash out all i blood and dirt with cold soft water. Warm water will injure the hide and cause the wool to slip. j Ijiy the pelt on a flat surface with the flesh side up and apply a mixture ; made up of 5 pounds of table salt mixed with 1 pound of powdered alum. Be sure to rub this mixture thoroughly into every square inch of i the surface. Now fold with the flesh sides together and put away in aj cool, but not freezing, place for two! weeks. At the end of this time, wash the pelt thoroughly with wool soap and soft water until white and clean. , Rinse well and stretch on a wooden fame. As the pelt dries, work with , your hands or a blunt instrument to: soften it. Finish dressing the skin' with fine sandpaper or pumice stone. |