lo Oct. 1910. J Slice p Diffing. 631 



The action of most sheep dips on wliat little wool there is after being 

 shorn is, to a certain degree, harmful. Anything that will destroy large 

 strong ticks in an hour or two also dries the yolk and affects the sheep's 

 skin. Any contraction of the skin affects the wool fibres. The action of 

 liquid dips, arsenical especially, also renders the wool harsh and dry. 

 This is partially corrected by warm weather dissolving the new yolk. 

 But these slight defects are not worth considering in the light of the good 

 that follows later. 



It is claimed by some firms that they add natural sheep's yolk to their 

 dips, thus giving the fleece a nice tip, and additional softness. Others de 

 clare that their dips give the sheep a closely protected tip keeping out dust. 

 But " black " tip, " blocky " tip, " rape seed " tip, " cauliflower " top, 

 '' broad " top, &c., and softness, are all a matter of breeding and feeding 

 in areas of medium rainfall. 



By dipping, general comfort and discontinuance of rubl)ing are secured. 

 Then the healthy nature of a well bred and judiciously fed sheep under 

 favourable climate begins to act. The yolk is secreted steadily and rises 

 to the surface; there the slight dust in medium rainfall districts is col- 

 lected on the outside where it is held by the yolk. Dark tip is simply 

 dust collected by the yolk. Jn light rainfall districts, with sheep, such 

 as crossbreds, that secrete too little yolk for such a climate, this dust 

 settles down into the tlecte. In heavy rainfall areas the winter rains 

 \\ash the dust out. 



In a recent issue of Tl/c Journal of the Board of Agricidtiire, England, 

 the following notes on dipping are given : — 



1. Average period of immersion for sheep to be not less than half a minute. 



2. Where a number of sheep are to be dipped the bath must be cleaned out from 

 time to time, otherwise the efficacy of the dipping may be impaired. 



3. It is inadvisable to make up the dip bath by mixing two or more dips con- 

 taining different ingredients, even in cases where each dip has been approved for 

 use by itseif. For example, to mix carbolic and arsenic dips may result in destroying 

 the efficacy of both ingredients, and even the mixing of dips containing the same 

 ingredients may result in the bath being below standard. In some cases also the use 

 of mixed dips may injure the sheep. 



\.\'ote. — English sheep are all open woolled breeds.) 



An interesting case relative to mixing different preparations latelv came 

 under my personal notice. A farmer was given permission to use a dip 

 in which was 1,500 gallons of a leading powder wash left ovt/r from a 

 previous dipping. He came with another powder dip and could not bring 

 himself to empty the dip, so he added the required water, mixed the two 

 lots and commenced. After dipping for some hours he then found he 

 would not have sufficient bath to finish, so he decided to add a tin of 

 liquid dip of still another firm that had been left unopened by others. 

 He then dipped the remainder of his sheep. After shearing he remarked 

 that his sheep were never freer from ticks. The wool, however, especially 

 on the weaners that went through last, had a very decided break half an 

 inch from the tip, which is worse than a break half way. 



The latter defect is sometimes caused when dipping with a powder dip. 

 A scum often lies on the surface of a newly mixed bath and if sheep carry 

 this out on their back"^ the skin will be affected, causing a break in the 

 Avool. This scum should be removed before commencing dipping, especially 

 if stud or show she'ep are to go through while the water is clean ; or a few 

 ration sheep can be put through first, and then there will be no danger. 

 It can be avoided to a great extent by soaking the powder over night ; it 

 is always worse wh-en mixed hastily. 



