324 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



in some sections they are sold separate as a different quality of wool, being of shorter staple 

 than the fleece. 



Sheep should not be sheared so early in the season as to be exposed to an undue cold 

 temperature, neither should the process be delayed so late as to render the wool burdensome 

 to them, or not to give the wool a good growth before autumn. They should never be 

 exposed to rains or cold winds immediately after shearing, as they will be liable, from the 

 great change of losing their fleece, to take cold and have a fever, or lung disease; hence, it 

 will well repay the owner to take especial care to shelter the flock in unfavorable weather 

 at this trying period. Even heavy dews will sometimes produce the same effect after 

 the fleece has been removed, until they are accustomed to the change. If the weather be 

 too hot or sultry after shearing, the sheep should have a good shady retreat in which to be 

 protected from flies, and the hot sun, since the skin is then very tender, and will be liable to 

 blister or be otherwise permanently injured. 



It is well to have the sheep penned but a short time before shearing, as when recently 

 taken from a fresh pasture with full, round bodies, this process is more easily accomplished 

 than when lank and thin from empty stomachs. By the use of a machine, the process of shear 

 ing is greatly facilitated, and the wool is cut more evenly and closely than by hand, and also 

 without clipping the staple a second time, as is often the case when shears are used. The 

 following account of a recent sheep shearing in Australia, taken from an Australian paper, 

 will give the farmers of this country some idea of the magnitude of sheep husbandry in 

 that country: 



&quot; Edoes & Co., of New South Wales, had recently upon one of their sheep farms at 

 Bitrrawand a sheep-shearing which lasted ten weeks and was concluded early in December, 

 during which time no less than 206,123 sheep were shorn! To do this work 100 shearers, in 

 addition to the station hands, were employed, and in a single day 8,216 sheep were 

 deprived of their fleeces. The aggregate yield was 2, 5 12. bales, the gross weight of which 

 was 468 tons. On previous occasions the same parties have shorn over 214,000 sheep; but 

 this has been the largest amount of wool ever produced at a single shearing.&quot; 



Packing the Fleece. The manner in which the fleece is packed has much to do with 

 its sale; hence, special care should be taken to have the packing done as neatly as possible. It 

 should be clipped of all tags and filth, either before being taken from the animal or after. It 

 should be laid on a perfectly smooth bench or table, with the outside uppermost; push the 

 wool carefully together to make it somewhat compact; then turn the ends all in, such as the 

 neck and legs, to make the ends straight, and double the sides over to the centre; if the loose 

 wool is to be included (which is the usual custom), put them in the centre and roll from the 

 end in a moderately tight package, and tie with good twine. This makes a neat, smooth 

 package that can be readily handled and examined, as the inside of the fleece (or that grown 

 nearest the skin), constitutes the outside of the package when rolled. 



&quot;When the wool is to be shipped, it will be necessary to put the bundles in bags or boxes. 

 They should be packed into as small a compass as possible, and the box or bag securely 

 fastened, after which they should be weighed, and the weight and qulaity marked upon them. 

 The tags can be prepared for sale by washing in strong soap suds, and pulling them to pieces 

 until all the dirt is removed; after which rinse in soft water. Some recommend dipping them 

 repeatedly in strong salt and water made as hot as the hands can bear, before washing. These 

 should be packed separately as inferior wool, although they often make wool of medium 

 quality, and would otherwise be worthless. 



How to Determine the Age ol Sheep and Lambs. Although some breeds of 

 sheep mature much quicker than others, and much depends upon the manner in which they 

 are cared for, however, a few general rules may be given for determining their age, which 

 may be regarded as sufficiently definite for all practical purposes. 



