SHEEP DIPPING TANKS 249 



The Entrance Race. — A good working width for the entrance race 

 is 15 or 16 inches. Any animals with horns too wide to get through 

 a race of this width may be dipped by hand. In any case there would 

 be only a few such animals in a flock. 



The side-fences of the race should be close-boarded with -f" boards, 

 planed smooth on their inner face. 



A curtain should be hung between the inslide and the tank, to 

 prevent the sheep springing from the inslide right across the tank, 

 and injuring themselves on the opposite side. The passing of the sheep 

 along the race towards the tank is generally a difficult operation, 

 demanding a good deal of effort on the part of the men who have to 

 carry out the work. The curtain facilitates the above operation, 

 probably on account of its hiding the dipping-fluid from the sheep. 



It consists of a piece of tarpaulin hung from a horizontal spar and 

 weighted by a wooden rod along the bottom. 



The race is flagged and the end E, Fig. 193, concreted and smoothly 

 plastered with 1 to 2 cement plaster, being sloped in such a way that the 

 surface of the race merges into that of the inslope without any abrupt 

 step or difference of level. 



The race is provided with a check gate, Q, at its entrance, so that 

 while one lot of sheep is undergoing its 2^ minutes' dip, the next lot may 

 be passed into, and held in the race in readiness for dipping. 



The race is arranged for branding, drenching, etc., by being provided 

 with two swing gates, M and N, and slip rails, the latter consisting of two 

 or three rails which may be slipped through holes prepared for them in 

 the close side-boarding of the race. 



The animals after branding, drenching, etc., may be passed through 

 gate N to the veld, or through gate M if it is desired that they be penned, 

 or, the slip rails being removed, they may enter the dip. 



The close-boarded side fences need not exceed 3 feet in height through- 

 out the length of the race. 



Forcing Pen. — The fencing of the forcing pen may be con- 

 structed of eucalyptus posts and rough wattle rails, but many farmers 

 may prefer to use sawn rails. It would be an advantage to flag the 

 forcing pen, as well as the race, to prevent dirt being carried into the 

 tank by the sheep. 



Eecoy Pen. — The decoy pen consists of jackal wire carried on posts 

 with 2" by 3" rails at the top and bottom. The 3" by 3" 



