Read Ebook: A Method of Tanning without Bark by Maple William

Font size: 10 px 15 px 20 px 25 px 30 px 35 px

Background color: BlackWhiteGrayLight GrayDark GrayDim Gray

Text color: BlackWhiteGrayLight GrayDark GrayDim Gray

Apply/Save settings

Ebook has 86 lines and 9985 words, and 2 pages

N?. 2. A Calve's Skin, uncurryed.

N?. 3. A Calve's Skin, curried: each of these, when tann'd and dry'd, weighing about three Pounds.

N?. 4. A Calve's Skin, very strong and large, when tanned and dryed, weighing about Six Pounds.

N?. 5. Seven or Eight Pair of Soles, of a Calve's Skin, rais'd.

N?. 6. A Bend of a Bullock's Hyde for Harness.

There were a great many other Tanners, Curriers, and Shoemakers, who were of the same Opinion. But considering, their Testimonies, would be but so many Repititions; I shall not recite them.

In respect to Time.

In regard to Cheapness.

In relation to the Cheapness.

Part of the Roots, I have used, I purchased at three Farthings, the Pound; but of late Years, and being willing to engage the Privacy of the Gatherer; I have given a Penny; they lose about a third in Drying: Allowing these as Facts and taking it at the dearest, less than five Shillings worth of Roots, will go farther, than a Barrel of the best Bark.

That all People may easily know and find out these Plants, I shall here give a Description; which though tedious, I hope will be excused.

It flourishes in every Hedge, sandy, loose and deep Soil: the Roots which are to be preferred, are the thick, long, and of the darkest Colour.

In the Figure, denotes the Root, the Flower in the Bud, the Flower expanded, the Knob of Seeds, the Runners, the Flower Cup. I have exhibited but few of the Leaves, Stems, and Runners to avoid Confusion.

It is observable, that from the Bark of the Stalk of this Plant, at its breaking forth from the Root, excrementitious Tubercles or Knots, resembling Oak-Galls have been often discovered, and like them are subservient to the Propagation of Insects; which, considering the extream nice, and distinguishing Taste of those Animalculas, may well be allowed as a Proof, that their Juices are similar.

The Roots growing on Mountains are small, strong, and often have a black Coat; those that grow on the Sides of Loughs, and in Bogs, are large, of a lighter Colour; some I have had of the Latter, that have weighed each above half a Pound.

When you chose the Roots, prefer the large, knotty Roots, that when broken exhibit a blood red Tincture intermixt with the Brown, and those that when cut, leaves on the Knife a strong purple Colour.

The best Time for collecting these Roots is in the Winter Season, or early in the Spring, and tho' the Seed-bearing Stalks, and Foliage are decayed, yet there are several Foot Leaves, that remain and direct the Inquirer.

And tho' these Plants grow wild all over the Country, in such Plenty, as to be more than sufficient to tann all the Hydes, and Skins of the Kingdom; and little Apprehension of a Deficiency, for in digging up the Roots, there will be left some broken Parts, some Fibres, which will Vegetate and give a Supply. A common Root, on a moderate Computation will produce 8 or 10 hundred Seeds, these shedding, and dispersed by Winds, and other Accidents, some will take Root, and carry on a Succession.

An Acre contains 7,840 square Yards; but, for Paths, Wastes, and inclosing, I would allow 1,800 Yards, not to be employed; As the first Year they will be little more than fibrous, I would allow three Years for their Growth, tho', if another Year was added, the Crop by an Increase would sufficiently reward, not only as to Quantity but Quality; as the best of Lands are not required; I would state the Expence of that Culture as follows,

The Propagation may be effected by planting the Crowns of the Roots, in either Autumn or Spring, in the same manner as Horse Raddish, splitting the Crown, so as to leave a Bud on every Slice, then setting them in the Ground, about an Inch in Depth and allowing each Set, 5 or 6 Inches square of Ground. When you take up a Plantation, you will have an Abundance of small Roots that arose from the shedding of the Seed, and from the Runners, that will scarce be worth the Drying, but very proper for Planting: If you cut from either Extremity of the Root, a Piece of about half an Inch in Length, it will grow very well. The whole Root, if cut into such Pieces, may be planted. In all these I believe the Charge of Planting might be saved; if you scatter them before Harrow, the passing of that over them, will cover them with Earth sufficient; or at least, the most Part of them.

You may Plant the Runners, as you do Strawberries, in the mention'd Seasons and Distances, and considering the Numbers of fibrous Roots, already shot forth, it may be allowed the speediest Method.

The Roots when collected, are to be washed very clean, from the Earth that will remain with them, for otherwise, that Dirt when in the Layers, settleth into the Pores of the Hyde or Skin, and causeth Numbers of Spots, and Discolourations.

In fair Weather, it not being a succulent Root, they will sufficiently dry if spread on a Floor, or a clean Part of the Field; a little Wet, will in no case damage them. In case of very wet Weather, and continued, they may be Kiln dryed, in the same Manner as Bark.

When dryed, they must be bruised or ground, either more or less, according to the Uses design'd, or to the Proportion you require them to spend in. In case they should not be sufficiently washt, when they are pounded, or ground a little, it would be adviseable to sift the Dirt, or Earth, which by this Means is broken, and seperated from them.

When thus prepared, you must proceed in the same Manner, and lay away, intirely, with the same Circumstances as with Bark.

To these, I would answer.

That Bark would always bear a Price, in Proportion to the Rate of what is substituted in lieu thereof; It would be far from being rendered useless, but only suffer a Diminution in Value.

That Diminution would be more than ballanced by the accelerated Growth, and Worth of the Timber. At present we fall our Woods so young, and at such improper Seasons, on Account of the Bark, that the Timber is neither so good, and little more than fit for Ribberies, and Cabbins; whereas otherwise, was the present Inducement, the great Price of Bark diminished, we should have full, and well grown Timber, cut at a due Season, and proper for Edifices, and Shipping.

The Improvement of those Lands that now are unprofitable, or not far from such, would be another Ballance, if not wholly, yet in Part, to the apprehended Injury.

The first of these Islands, is in the Latitude of 28, the other in 62. Yet we find the same Roots used for the same Purposes, though probably they may differ in Degrees of Power.

Our Temperate Climate seems in some Degree, to be more adapted to Vegetables of this Species of Power, than those that are deemed hot. Our Bark is allowed to excel the Bark of those warmer Climates, as also our Timber.

One great Advantage, arising from this Tannage should it become general, will be, that it will give Imployment to a great many Poor People, that will be set to work in gathering, or raising such a Quantity of those Roots, as will answer the present annual Import of Bark; as also the Tannage of some, if not the Whole of those Hydes, we now export unwrought; besides the great Numbers, that will be employed in the encreased Tannage.

Thus, with as much Brevity, as the Nature of the Subject would admit of, I have given a Narrative, of what I hope will be as satisfactory, on a candid Perusal as I am assured, it will be beneficial to the Publick, in all its Consequences; if the Method laid down be but pursued with common Care, and Assiduity. It requiring no greater Skill than what at present is used in Bark Tannage; no Alterations in Forms, or Utensils.

If the Instructions, laid down, should appear to Any insufficient, or imperfect; I shall always with Pleasure be ready to render them, if in my Power otherwise. I have made a Plantation, very near this City, that if the Curiosity of Any should prompt them to a farther Information, in that Particular, they there may meet with it. As this Tannage is constantly carried on; it is open to the View of Any that desire it. I have several Thousands of Pounds weight of these Roots by me; I never refusing the buying of any brought to me. If any Tanner wants, he may have it at the Price, I gave to the Countryman, or be directed where, or how to be supply'd, until a Demand makes it a Market Commodity.

Our Necessities, and those daily encreasing, first prompted to this Essay. The Authority of Books, I have not relied on, but a Series of Experiments that employed several Years in the Pursuit. If I have pointed out, or cleared from Incumbrances, an advantageous Path that may lessen the Import of Bark, extend our Tannage by our own Produce, and give a Support to any Number of Poor; I regard it in no other Sense, than having done Part of that Duty, I owe to a Country, which in Gratitude, I would call mine.

For additional contact information:

Share on: WhatsApp @Hash Facebook Tweet