184 SHEEP I BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 



of the art there can be no objection. The methods vary with 

 every breed. The Leicester appears, like the parson, all 

 shaven and shorn. The Lincoln is smeared over with some 

 mysterious unguent, which makes the hands feel very dis- 

 agreeable if they are allowed to touch the fleece. The Cots- 

 wold comes out curly in coat, white, and redolent of soap 

 and water. The Southdown appears as like a plum as a 

 sheep can possibly be made, and bears evidence of the shears 

 over his entire carcase. A very smug gentleman indeed is 

 the Southdown when in his war paint. Trimming is carried 

 to the greatest perfection in the Down races, and they 

 certainly reward the artists who have accomplished their 

 tasks so deftly. How it is done, when it is done, and how 

 often it is done are topics which for the present we need not 

 now enter upon. Perhaps in a future work we may be able 

 to give full directions as to how to get up a sheep for show, 

 but it must be allowed that there is something almost 

 traitorous in letting out trade secrets. 



