635 



sheep all double cuts by the shearer should be avoided. Where 

 an over-thickness of wool has been left on the skin at the first cut, 

 it is almost better to leave the wool on the sheep than take it off 

 with a second cut. Such short lengths of fibre as these second 

 cuts give are a detriment to the Heece, and when noticed by the 

 buyer are apt to cause a reduction in the value of the wool. 



Cuts in the sheep's skin are frequent with careless shearers, 

 anxious only to make a tally. The old practice was to dress these 

 cuts with tar, but of late Little's dip has come into general use for 

 this purpose. Carbolic oil in the proportion of one to fifteen of 

 olive oil is sometimes used. 



TREATMENT OF THE FLEECE. 



The fleece on being taken up from the shearing floor should be 

 kept well together and spread out on the wool table with the cut 

 end down. The belly should be taken off and thrown into a separate 

 receptacle with the skirtings. These are the lower portions of the 

 arms and thighs. Overskirting is a waste, as good wool is taken 

 from the fleece and put into the pieces, which sell at a lower price. 

 All discolored pieces and wool full of seeds should be removed 

 from the fleece and put with the bellies or the locks, according to 

 their condition. The locks are the heavily stained and very seedy 

 pieces of wool. All dags should be thrown into a manure heap. 

 On no account should they be put into the locks. It occasionally 

 happens from the effect of disease, or a very bad season, that some 

 of the wool has a weak spot in the fibre. This the person who 

 rolls up the fleece can readily tell by removing a small piece from 

 each fleece and trying its strength with the fingers. If there is a 

 decided break in the fibre all such fleeces should be put together, 

 and if a bale or bales of them are made they should be marked 

 " broken fleece." If there is less than a bale of these fleeces the 

 bale should be made up of bellies and pieces, and marked "broken 

 fleece and pieces." 



To roll up the fleece, fold up the sides so as to leave it from 

 i^ to 2 ft. broad. Roll from the tail end, and it may be fastened 

 by thrusting the twisted neck into the body of the fleece. The 

 general usage is to tie with string, smooth white string being pre- 

 ferred, as it does not leave any fibres in the wool, but the tying may 

 be omitted if the fleece is carefully handled. Black and spotted 

 wool should be packed by itself. If it is in small quantity it may 

 be packed with pieces, and the bale marked to show the contents. 

 The wool from a well managed flock has a very attractive appear- 

 ance, while that from sheep that have done badly and been fre- 

 quently yarded is dull and not as well grown. Washing wool on 

 the sheep's back is now very seldom practised in Australia. Shearing 

 in the grease is a saving of time and money, and a great benefit to 

 the sheep. 



