10 Feb., 1916.] The Profit from Dipping Sheep. 95 



maturing years, say, from lambhood to about 6-tootli off. Aged sheep 

 keep in better condition both in flesh and wool. At 4 years old the 

 wool growth has reached its " pivotal point," and begins to decline, 

 but during the growing period of the sheep there is a large margin 

 of profit in dipping properly. There is a right and a wrong way to 

 do all things. I don't intend the figures given to be absolutely correct, 

 as the profit would vary in different districts; but, no matter where or 

 when, there is a good profit. What I want to show is that as a business 

 transaction dipping pays handsomely. I know one man who usually 

 dealt in crossbred weaners off shears, and as soon as they arrived on 

 his holding they were thoroughly dipped, not for vermin, as they were 

 perfectly clean in this respect, but to free them from all troubles as 

 much as possible, so that all they had to do was to eat and grow. That 

 man always sold at large profits, and his sheep alw^ays took the buyer's 

 eye. 



Many years ago in a dry time I had to shepherd a flock of sheep, 

 and as usual under these circumstances, one becomes a philosopher, 

 being alone from daylight to dark. Now, that flock was thickly 

 infested with ticks, and in order to occupy my mind I used to see how 

 much feeding time the sheep lost nibbling and scratching, and I found 

 that certain sheep that I knew well by their countenances lost from 

 three to four hours each day from rest and feed by having to rub and 

 scratch themselves to allay the irritation set up by the ticks biting. 

 Now, I came to the safe conclusion during the two months I had 

 charge of that flock, that they were diverted from increasing their 

 productive value, such as growing wool and carcass, for fifteen days. 

 That would be roughly 2 ozs. of wool and about \ lb. of flesh, fat, and 

 bone. The owner of, say, 1,500, loses 2s. per head in the young sheep; 

 that amounts to £150, and he is like unto the man in Scripture who 

 only received two talents. 



Dipping with a good dip tightens up the tip of the wool, thus 

 preventing dust and rain penetrating too far down the fibre. 



Many owners of sheep not vermin-infested look upon the dipping 

 as unnecessary and non-paying; but I know that it is a profitable 

 investment, is also a disinfectant, and a deterrent of the fly. It does 

 not entirely prevent flyblows, but it goes a very long way towards doing 

 so. If the sheep are well-erutched as well, there will be only a small 

 percentage attacked. 



I prefer a dip that has sulphur in the make-up, because the sulphur 

 hangs on better than carbolised dips, which are more volatile, and in 

 our dry, hot country the deterrent effect evaporates. 



Of course, there is an art in dipping sheep, whicli is soon learned 

 by use and observation. For instance, keep the dip up to a uniform 

 strength and also keep it well stirred, so as not to waste the stuff, 

 and also see that all sheep get a pro])er soaking. esi>eciallv under 

 the jaws, as it is here that tick-eggs find a secure bxlgnuMit. Some 

 owners are extremely careless, and they blame the dip if the results 

 are not what thoy expect. But dijiping returns a good profit all the 

 same. 



Many owners credit dipi)ing with only an increa.st^ in wool nt n 

 quarter of a pound, but this is too little. From three-quarters to over a 



