Live Stock. Circular or improved Mock of Clipping* 



mean the work is believed to be more evenly as well as more clofely executed. It 

 is fuggcfted, as probable, that the firft inducement to this method of executing 

 -the bufinefs was that of improving the beauty of the animals.* It is not unlikely 

 .but that convenience might alfo have fomcm.irc in the introduction of this improve 

 ment, as it is extremely aukward and unpleafant for the operator to clip large fheep 

 in the longitudinal method. The origin of this mode of (hearing fhcep is given 

 -by Mr. Young, to Lincolnfliirc, whence it is fuppofed to have pafled into Leicef- 

 terfhire. And it has fince that period been introduced among the Suffex fheep- 

 iarmers with much attention by the Earl of Egrcmont : while the late Duke of 

 Bedford and Mr. Goke have not been lefs afliduous in making it known in Bed- 

 fordfhire and Norfolk. -j- It is therefore probable that it will not long be neglect- 

 ,ed by the (heap-farmers in thofe diftrifts where it may be yet unknown. 



In managing this fort of bufinefs, befides the clippers, who are moftly perfons 

 that undertake the work, it is neceflary to have a man to every three or four clip, 

 pers, to draw and turn up the fheep ready for the operation. The bufinefs is moft- 

 ]y performed in a barn or other fhady fituation. Expert clippers feldom or ever 

 ut or in any way hurt the fheep ; but where they are not well accuftomed to the 

 work this may ealily be the cafe, and much injury be done : it is of courfe neccflary 

 to be cautious in engaging perfons for this fort of work. The number of fheep 

 jthat can be clipped in the courfe of the day by an expert operator mufl vary ac 

 cording to circumftanccs, but in general it is fuppofed to be about forty. 



With the grazier, where this fort of work is on a very extenfive fcale, it is moftJy 

 the cultom to have the work performed by the number. The ufual price is from 

 23. 6d. to 33. thefcore, the clippers drawing their fheep. + But with lefs extenfive 

 (heep- farmers the work is often performed by the day, in which cafe 2s. 6d. with 

 meat, ftrong beer, liquors, &c. is the common price for each perfon. Mr. Young 

 .dates the price in common clipping at &quot; from 2S. 6d. to 35. per fcore, for wafh- 

 ing, clipping, and winding, labour being at is. 6d. a day.&quot; At prefent we believe 

 ;the expenfes run higher than thefe ftatements. 



It is neceflary to have a proper perfon to wind the wool after the {hearers, who 

 mould perfectly underftand the bufinefs, as much in the fale depends upon this 

 being well done, and that no improper fubftances be enclofed in the fleeces, as 

 %vhere it happens the farmer may find difficulty in difpofmgof his wool in future, 



f Young * Cajendar. t Ibid. J Synopfis of Husbandry, ; , Ibi.j, 



