30 FARMERS BULLETIN 713. 



receiving corral should be so constructed that there ma}^ be the least 

 ])racticable number of corners or places in which the sheep ma}- be- 

 come jammed or "piled up." 



The nature of the sheep is such that in an effort to get out it will 

 try to go back to the place where it entered the corral; therefore, if 

 the entrance gate is near the vat the herd will tend to crowd toward 

 the vat and thus save considerable work in getting them into the 

 chute or catch pen. The corrals and chutes may be so arranged that 

 a combination legging pen and running chute is provided. Sheep 

 will usually work well in a chute the first time they are dipped at 

 a vat, but with old ewes that have been dipped several times at the 

 same vat it is often necessary to put them into the vat by hand. The 

 location and arrangement of the chutes are sometimes changed from 

 year to year so the sheep may not recognize them so readily. The 

 i-unning chute should be curved to obstruct the view, and the side 

 on Avhich the men work should be tight boarded. The usual height 

 for the sides of the chute is 40 inches. Sheep work well ui)hill but 

 not down an incline ; the chutes and alleys, therefore, should be up- 

 grade to the vat. If necessary elevate the running chute so that it 

 slants upward to the slide board. A small pen should be provided 

 near the entrance to the vat and so arranged that the sheep may see 

 it. This i^en, known as a " decoy pen," is filled with sheep to induce 

 the other members of the flock to work toward the vat more readily 

 in their efforts to join those in the pen. The size and arrangement of 

 the corrals will necessarily vary with the topographj'^ of the loca- 

 tion and the individual ideas or tastes of the owner. 



DRAINING PENS. 



When a sheep emerges from the vat it carries out a large quantity 

 of dip in the fleece. The major portion of this dip drains out of the 

 fleece very rapidly and it is desirable that it be saved and returned 

 to the vat. Draining i>ens with water-tight floors sloping toward the 

 vat should therefore be provided. The size will depend upon the 

 size of the plant and the number of sheep to be dipped. The relative 

 size shown in the plans illustrated in figures 20 and 21, may be 

 followed, increasing or decreasing the size of the pens to correspond 

 to the length of the vat. There should be two draining pens, each 

 having an opening into the holding corral. They may be made of 

 lumber or cement and should have catch basins or screening and 

 settling wells into which the dip drains so as to prevent manure and 

 foi-eign matter fi-om being carried into the vat. Drawings of screen- 

 ing and settling wells will be found in the plan of the cement dipping 

 l)lant in this bidletin. (See fig. 21.) In constructing draining pens 

 of cement it is advisable to build the outer walls in the same manner 



