lo Dec, 1908.] Shearing Shed for Four Shearers. 741 



The frost was responsible in many districts for the light crop of plums. 

 Peaches will be about an average crop. Strawberries are now coming into 

 the market, and are more plentiful than they have been for some years. 



There will be a large surplus of apples and pears for export, and 

 growers should make arrangements for shipping space sufficient for their 

 requirements as early as possible. If this is not done at once growers may 

 find a difficulty later on in securing the quantity of space they may require. 

 The space available is limited, and not nearly enough for requirements. 

 All growers should ship a portion of their apples in order that a 

 remunerative price may be obtained. The larger the quantity shipped the 

 better for the local market, which will be relieved of a large quantity of 

 apples which would otherwise be sold locally at a very low price. 



Spraying for Codlin Moth should be carefully attended to. To neglect 

 this means a large percentage of grubby apples, reducing the quantity 

 of marketable apples ver\- considerably. If Black Spot should make its 

 appearance on any of the trees, spray at once with Bordeaux mixture. 

 This will keep it in check and prevent its spread. 



SHEARINCI SHED FOR FOUR SHEARERS. 



/I. ►S. Ke?iyon, C.E., Engineer for Agriculture. 



Several requests having been made for information regarding the 

 planning and construction of small shearing sheds, the complete working 

 drawings, specification and quantities of a shed suitable for four shearers 

 are here given. Copies of these are now available and may be 

 obtained on application to the Secretary for Agriculture at the cost of 

 Five shillings per set. 



The accompanying illustrations show plan, section and elevation only, 

 and give a fair idea of the dimensions and arrangement. The framework 

 of the building is constructed of hardwood on redgum stumps and sole 

 plates, and the walls and roof are covered with 26 gauge corrugated gal- 

 vanized iron. The level of the floor is 2 ft. 5 in. above ground level to 

 allow the sheep droppings to be raked out from under the pens, and to 

 insure a free circulation of air under the floor. The floor area is 60 ft. 

 by 25 ft. one half of which would be occupied by the shearers and sheep, 

 and the other half by the wool-clas.sers. The half to be occupied bv the 

 shearers is divided into a shearing board and pens. The area of the 

 shearing board is 20 ft. by 9 ft., giving a space of 9 ft. by 5 ft. for 

 each shearer, which allows sufficient passage way for the boy carrying 

 the wool and the tar without inconvenience to the shearers. At the back 

 or the shearing board are two catching pens which will hold 24 sheep each, 

 one pen supplying two shearers. The catching pens are connected with 

 the shearing board by a hinged door furnished with a strong spring. The 

 door opens on to shearing board, which enables the shearer, after catching 

 his sheep to back out. when the door will immediately close by means of 

 tne spring as soon as the shearer is clear of it. In the wall opposite 

 each shearer is a port hole, closed by a sliding door, through which the 

 sheep is passed- into the counting-out pen after having been shorn. The 

 shearing board is lighted by two lifting sashes, each 4 ft. 6 in. wide 

 by 2 ft. 6 in. high. In addition to the two catching pens are two filling 

 pens to hold 24 sheep each, and a sweating pen to hold 80 sheep. The 

 pens are divided by railings 3 ft. 6 in. high and are connected with one 

 another by light strong gates. The gates are secured at one of the bottom 



