For beating out or controlling a bush fire the old practice was to 

 use boughs of trees, but these had the inconvenient habit of giving 

 out just when they were most needed. Old bags fastened to a stout 

 6 ft. sapling were then tried, but they soon took fire. The best 

 implement, and the one now in general use on well managed pastoral 

 properties, is a piece of stout leather or bullock hide about 2ft. broad 

 and 3ft. long, securely fastened to a 6ft. pole. Sometimes the hide 

 is strengthened by a piece of hoop iron running for half way up the 

 centre from the end of the pole. The hide is fastened to the pole 

 thus : A cut is made with a saw for a few inches down the pole, and 

 the hide is inserted in this, the whole being securely fastened together 

 by two or three rivets. 



SHKKP FO* HOME USE. 



The sheep used for home consumption and rations are usually 

 the culls for age and inferior young sheep. The killing flock is 

 generally kept in a paddock near the steading, which on account of 

 its handiness is usually overstocked. The result is that the sheep 

 are generally in low condition, and it is often difficult to find among 

 them animals that are fit for killing. To half starve sheep intended 

 for home consumption is false economy ; they should, if possible, 

 have a chance to get into good order, if not to become fat. The 

 general practice is to run the sheep into the yard, catch as many 

 sheep as arc required, and kill them at once. It is a much better 

 plan to let the sheep starve for twelve hours at least before killing, 

 the meat will be the more wholesome and nutritious, besides 

 having a much better flavour. 



The skins should be taken off carefully. The bad skinning of 

 Australian pelts causes them to be of less value than those from 

 any other country. Where it can be managed the skins should be 

 dried tinder cover, and to prevent the attacks of weevil, they should 

 be dressed with a mixture prepared in the following manner : 

 Mix 5 Ib. arsenic and 6 Ib. soda in 10 gallons of water, and 

 boil slowly for half an hour ; when th arsenic is dissolv d dilute 

 with twice the quantity of water. Apply with a brush to the fleshy 

 side as soon as possible after skinning. The skins should be 

 quite dry before being packed to send to market, and the 

 trotters and all offal should be removed. 



YARDING, DRAUGHTING, &c. 



Where a permanent flock is bred the less they are knocked 

 about in the yard the better it will be for them. Sheep can be 

 kept perfectly quiet by those in charge going among them on the 

 run without yarding. When it is necessary to yard the sheep, they 

 should be brought in quietly. On such occasions some shepherds 

 who own a dog are fond of showing off how well he can work. 

 This exhibition, it must be remembered, is at the cost of the sheep, 

 which are rushed along at a headlong pace, and crushed through 

 the gateway into the yard, at a saving of perhaps five minutes' time. 



