1G4 AGRICULTURAL ESSAYS. 



cannot be washed sufficiently until after shearing. But fhose 

 sheep whose fleeces are washed before, should be kept some 

 days previous to shearing, after they are washed, which will 

 render the shearing more easy, and require less oil to be af- 

 terwards added for spinning. The fleece of the merino sheep 

 being more close, this operation is more slow and difficult, and 

 it is thought best to use for that purpose, shears with blades 

 much narrower than those of the common Idnd. In England 

 it is a common practice after shearing, to smear the bodies of 

 the sheep with a mixture of tar and fresh butter, which serves 

 to cure the wounds in the skin, and to fortify their bodies a- 

 gainst the cold. This mixture may be improved by a small 

 quantity of sulphur. They should be again anointed in the month 

 of August, thoroughly on the back and sides, by parting the 

 wool for that purpose. This ointment is useful to cure any 

 wound made by cutting, and effectually to destroy all the 

 ticks, which are very pernicious to sheep. During cold rains 

 and cold nights after shearing,they should be placed where they 

 can go into their house, or place of shelter, when they please ', 

 as they know best when they want shelter, and when they be- 

 come so warm as to require the open air. 



They should at all times have plenty of salt, but particularly 

 after shearing, as it is a stimulus which enables them to with- 

 stand the cold the better. 



* A warm sun is injurious to the backs of sheep after shearingf 

 their pasture should therefore have some shade, to which they 

 can retire during the heat of the day. 



The wool of yearling sheep should be kept by itself, because 

 not having the same texture or strength which the wool of 

 older sheep has, it will make the cloth shrink unequally if mix- 

 ed wit)i such wool. Some think it best to sort the other fleeces 

 also, at shearing time, making separate parcels of the thighs, 

 the belly, and the back sides, as the texture of these is often so 

 different as to render it inexpedient to wash it together. 



The follov/ing is an European method of managing merino 

 wool before carding. After it has been sorted, and is to be 

 manufactured in the family, let it be covered with soft water, 

 mixed with one third urine, and stand fifteen hours, or longer 

 if the weather be cold. A cauldron is then to be put in the 

 fire with some soft water, and two thirds of that which covers 

 the fleeces be added to it. When so hot that the hand cannot v 

 bear it, take out the wool, put it in a basket, put the basket in 

 the cauldron, and then wash the wool by pressing, without any 



