SHEEP. 99 



affords a short screen for a few, their eyes shut re- 

 signedly, and their ears bent down, in the face of a 

 cutting wind that must chill their very marrow, and 

 a pelting shower which makes your pony wheel 

 round in spite of you : weather that gives the old farm 

 lady there a deserved ache in her dental periosteum, 

 for leaving the flat hearth-cakes by the fireside to 

 scold at her lord and lads, who have taken to thrash- 

 ing in the barn. The many holes in the fences 

 stopped by a hurdle, and hung with recent wool, tell 

 of frequent attempts at a bolt, when the unhappy 

 wretches have the spirit to make them. 



Talking of shelter reminds one of dress. When 

 shearing time comes you must have your flock well 

 washed some days before the operation commences ; 

 they should then be turned into a fresh, clean field, 

 and be allowed to perspire freely for some days, so 

 as to let what is called the yolk ascend again into 

 the fibre of the wool, or it will make a considerable 

 difference in the weighing. Keep the shorn fleeces, 

 until sold, compressed together under cover in a dark 

 place. 



There is a question respecting the expediency of 

 shearing the lambs their first year, which is usually 

 done about six weeks after the aged flock. The 

 Suffolk farmer will smile at this practice. The wool 

 is greatly inferior, and consequently fetches less than 

 it would if left to swell the yearling fleece. In this 

 wet country, however, farmers find that the lambs 

 thrive infinitely better, especially upon turnips, when 

 they have had their garments shortened at least 

 under the belly and along the thighs, as you will see 



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