lo Dec, 1909.] Development of Agricultural Production. 



789 



Before they reach them, however, an opening in the race wall at the 

 side of the dip allows the sheep to slide down to the bath on a floor 

 .set at a sufficiently steep angle to prevent the sheep from gaining a foot- 

 hold. A swinging curtain hangs over this slide, and prevents the sheep from 

 seeing the liquid in the bath, and, as the sheep slides, the curtain is pushed 

 aside, and the sheep slips into the dip. The dip is 25 feet long, and 5 feet 

 deep. Where the sheep enter, for 5 feet in length, the dip is 3 feet wide, 

 but narrows, for the remainder of its length, to 2 feet. Steps lead up to the 

 draining pens, which are pitched with bluestone, the floor being graded 

 to a cesspit. The dip is constructed of solid masonry, 17 inches wide. 



SHELTER BELT AND IIOU.SIiXG. 



The race of drafting yards, which is pitched with bluestone, diminishes 

 in width from 2 feet to 15 inches. A vertical roller is fixed on each side of 

 the race wall at the wide end to prevent the sheep from januning, and a 

 .small gate is hung at the narrow end for closing the race. The race 

 leads to t^^o yards divided by a fence, with a gate at each end. The gate of 

 the dividing fence at the end near race is hung so as to direct the sheep 

 into either yard. This gate, and the small gate at end of race, can easily be 

 opei'ated by one man 



All the posts of the fencing are of redgum, the gate posts being 1 5 inches in 

 diameter. The gates are of Oregon. The hanging stiles are 4 in. x 3 in. ; other 

 stiles 3 in. x 3in. ; mortised for rails. The large gates have a centre stile and 

 two braces. There are four rails. In the small gates these are all 3 in. x 1 in. 

 and in the large gates the top and bottom rails are 6 in. x 1 in. The braces 

 are 4 in. x 1 in. double, one on each side of rail. The gates are all bolted 

 together, hung with 2 in. x \ in. strap hinges on hooks bolted through posts. 

 All the gates, of which there are 47 in the yards, are hanging in 

 perfect order, and swinging clear of the ground. The gates are fastened 

 with chains. 



