264 FARM BUILDINGS IN SOUTH AFRICA 



other. He commences at the outlet gate, and brands right along till he 

 comes to the entrance gate. The sheep are then allowed to enter the 

 yard, B, where they are held till such time as they can conveniently be 

 removed. 



If the plan (Fig. 203a) be examined, it will be seen that the fence 

 which forms one side of any particular set of forcing pens and race is 

 quite straight. In yards made in this way the sheep run beautifully, 

 because they can see where they are going a good way ahead, and follow 

 each other at a smart pace. "Funnel-shaped" forcing pens cause the 

 sheep to jam at the mouth of the race, and give rise to extra work and 

 unnecessary knocking-about of the sheep. 



Sheep possess memories ; they object to being again penned-up 

 towards the dipping tank where they have had a good "sousing" on 

 some previous occasion ; they hang back through fear. For this reason 

 it is desirable to have the forcing pens for drafting different from those 

 for dipping. Once sheep have been through the drafting race they do 

 not fear it next time. There are no unpleasant memories attached to 

 it — just a recollection of a pleasant scamper through. 



If sheep be caused to use the same gate, both as entrance to and 

 exit from any yard, they are apt to develop the bad habit of " breaking 

 back" from the gate (on their being driven towards it with the object 

 of getting them to enter the yard), because they recollect that the last 

 time they were there they were scampering away from the yard. The • 

 provision of two gates in each yard, one of which is always used as 

 entrance and the other always as exit, goes a long way towards stopping 

 the above-mentioned habit of breaking back. 



In the accompanying plan both sides of every fence, with the excep- 

 tion of the outer fence, are made use of. It will also be noticed that 

 any dust which is raised in the yards, is well away from the wool tables, 

 bins, etc., which is a great desideratum. The back wall of the shed, 

 with the exception of the door M, contains only windows to admit light 

 to the batten-floor pens. 



Machine Shearing. — Should it be desired to instal shearing machines, 

 the accompanying plans, Figs. 204a, b, c, will show how the engine, 

 shafting, and grinder may be arranged. The shafting must be placed 

 at least 1 foot out from the uprights, to admit of the backward swing 

 of the shearing tube when the shearer is at work. Different makes of 

 machines are slightly differently installed, but that does not alter the 



