448 MODERN FARRIER. ' 



slope mouth at one end, with a depth sufficient at 

 one part for them to swim ; and to pave the whole: 

 the breadth need not be more than six or seven feet; 

 at one spot to let in on each side of this passage, 

 where the depth is just sufficient for the water to 

 flow over the sheep's back, a cask, either fixed or 

 leaded, for a man to stand in dry. The sheep being 

 in the water between them, they are washed in 

 perfection, and pushing them on, they swim through 

 the deep part, and walk out at the other mouth, 

 where a clean pen, or a very clean dry pasture, is to 

 receive them. Of course there is a bridge rail-way 

 to the tubs, and a pen at the first mouth of the wa- 

 ter, whence the sheep are turned into it, where they 

 may be soaking a few minutes before being driven 

 to the washers. But other more cheap contrivances 

 may be provided where there is clean water at hand 

 for the purposes. Sheep should on no account be 

 driven on dry or dusty roads after this operation. 



But in all cases before this work commences, the 

 lambs should be separated from the ewes and other 

 sheep, and each be put in separate pens. AVith 

 these it is seldom necessary to do much more than 

 just swill them through the water, without their 

 being touched by the washers. As soon as they 

 have been washed, the sheep should have a clean 

 hard pasture for a few days, until they are perfectly 

 dry, and in a proper condition to be shorn. 



56. Shearing. 



This usually begins with the month of June. 

 There is no part of their business in which common 

 shepherds appear so slovenly as in this. They usu- 

 ally mangle the fleece, and leave the sheep's backs 

 covered with tufts of ^vool, to the great loss of their 

 masters. The closer wool is clipped the better. It 

 would appear that some sheep, which carry the 

 finest fleeces, do not naturally shed their wool annu- 



