FOR SHOW RING AND MARKET. 35 



of our most prominent flock-masters and live stock journals 

 generally. No less an authority than the Prince of Wales 

 sees fit to offer condemnation to the "useless habit." 



Positively many of the Down breeds of sheep are presented 

 so daubed with grease and coloring ingredients as to make 

 them really filthy to handle, but where reason and judgment 

 are used I consistently believe a little coloring adds rather 

 than detracts from the appearance of the sheep; they appear 

 more uniform. 



I have found by experiment and practice that coloring- 

 about a week previous to showing gives the best and most 

 pleasing effect to the fleece. Most shepherds have a most 

 mysterious formula from which they prepare their coloring, 

 of course it being "something my father used to use." This 

 they guard with the greatest jealousy and secrecy. 



I have obtained the most pleasing effect from a combina- 

 tion of olive, or palm oil, yellow ochre and burnt umber. 

 The oil being put into a large bottle or tin can, the ochre is 

 added as a ground, and then the umber as the shade; the 

 whole being thoroughly mixed by vigorous shaking before 

 using. The color, being a matter of taste, must be left to the 

 judgment of the operator. Of course it must be borne in 

 mind that the umber is the regulator of shade of color. I 

 always have made it a point to try the coloring on one of 

 the ordinary members of the flock before using on the show 

 flock. The reason of this procedure is obvious. 



It is important that the shepherd make it a point to obtain 

 the prepared umber which is put up in cans, mixed with oil, 

 ready for use. The dry powdered article may, for what I 

 know, bring about undesirable conditions, or even failure- 



