SHEEP SHEARING NOT DIFFICULT 



Shearing Machine Practical for 50 or More Sheep, if You 

 Have Gasoline Engine to Run It 



A letter in the National Stockman and Farmer by J. W. Ham- 

 mond, Chief Sheep Investigator of Ohio Experiment Station, 

 gives the status of the shearing machine for the average farmer: 



Shear More Sheep 



From the standpoint of speed the machine is decidedly superior 

 to the hand shears. After a shearer has learned to operate the 

 machine he can usually shear from 25 per cent to 50 per cent more 

 than by hand. There also seems to be a fascination about shear- 

 ing with the machine which makes it easier to get men to learn to 

 shear by this method, than by hand. 



Poor Work With Machine 



In the hands of a slovenly workman the machine offers an 

 opportunity for poor work but in the hands of a careful shearer it 

 permits of better work than is possible with the hand shears. In 

 machine shearing the sheep must be turned to suit the machine 

 so that a different system of handling than that used in hand shear- 

 ing must be followed, but a careful shearer will soon learn to 

 handle his sheep so as to leave the fleece intact. 



Don't Make Second Cuts 



Another objection to the machine in the hands of some shearers 

 is the matter of "second cuts" made. In shearing around the 

 body there is a tendency particularly towards the end of the stroke 

 to allow the shears to run out into the fleece instead of to hold 

 them down close to the skin, making necessary the "second cuts" 

 which shorten the staple, a very serious objection. A careful 

 shearer will soon overcome this difficulty and not only leave his 

 fleece in as good shape, but will do a smoother job than is possible 

 with the hand shears. 



Keep Knives Sharp 



An essential to good work is to have the knives sharp and the 

 tension properly adjusted. The tension screw should be turned 

 a notch at a time until the proper adjustment is secured. A 

 novice is likely to get his knives too tight, causing them to heat 

 and do poor work. 



Saving in Cost Doubtful 



It is doubtful if machine shearing results in any great saving 

 in cost. If one owns his machine, the cost of power, interest, 



59 



