FITTING SHEEP FOR SHOW. 211 



degree the ability to produce wool. It is out of the question 

 to think of making a shepherd shear his show sheep close. 

 The method chieHy practiced by shepherds is that of stubble 

 shearing. Stubble shearing is simply nothing short of fraud 

 and dishonesty. It consists of taking a shears and shearing 

 the back so that it appears level and at the same time leav- 

 ing a good, long staple on the animal. The sides and belly 

 are slightly trimmed. The sheep should always be washed 

 immediately after they are shorn and trimmed while the 

 fleece is still moist. Although the fleece of the sheep at this 

 time is a trifle unsightly, yet with several careful trimmings 

 during the summer a perfect and pleasing form is obtained 

 by the time the show season opens. The long wooled sheep 

 should not be trimmed, but rather left in the natural con- 

 dition. In case of the middle wools or Downs trimming is 

 essential. The simplest manner to perform this operation 

 is to block out the sheep first; then take a pail of water, a 

 brush and curry-comb and thoroughly dampen the fleece. 

 Then with a keen cutting pair of shears at hand the straight 

 lines, graceful curves and fancy touches of the shepherd can 

 be produced. It is a simple process, but must be performed 

 on every subject several times in order to get an animal in 

 finished condition for the show ring. 



Washing of show sheep is most commonly practiced among 

 the long wooled breeds. Like many other operations in the 

 sheep husbandry it has its advantages and disadvantages. 

 When properly done washing is of great benefit to the show 

 sheep because it cleans the skin and allows the pores to 

 work freely, thus stimulating the flow of natural oil and 

 growth of wool. Sheep should not be subjected to the wash- 

 ing operation until the weather is mild. Cold water with the 

 chill off, or, better still, warm water, should be used, and a 

 good quality of soap, preferably castile, should not be for- 

 gotten. 



Whether one washes in a vat or any other kind of vessel, 

 the essential thing in the operation is to remove every trace 

 of soap from the skin and fleece, because if the slightest 

 trace is left it is not only injurious to the fleece but also 

 to the skin. 



Dipping is often practiced, but as a rule such precautions 

 should only be resorted to in order to guard off disease. It 

 is not expedient to dip show sheep for ticks except they are 

 badly infested. Whatever the sheep are dipped for they 



