BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT 53 



they could be found in any good handbook on the 

 subject ; and all points not touched upon here call 

 for pretty much the same treatment as those 

 practised in this country, such as suckling of lambs, 

 castration, dipping, shearing, etc. Besides, no man 

 in his senses would contemplate taking up sheep- 

 ranching without some knowledge of the subject, 

 and this is easily acquired by working for a year or 

 so (at good pay, too) on some ranch, as recom- 

 mended to those embarking in cattle. This would 

 be of more value to him than all the treatises that 

 are published. 



Most of the shearing is done by hand, although 

 some of the bigger flock-masters are introducing 

 machinery, much to the disgust of the shearing 

 gangs (mostly Americans) who travel over the 

 country in the season, working on contract, or, if 

 preferred, at a uniform charge for the job of 1\ cents 

 per sheep. Close shearing is never resorted to east 

 of the Rocky Mountains, because of the necessity 

 for the development of a good winter coat before 

 the late autumn (" fall," as it is called) sets in, 

 when the temperature frequently drops unexpectedly 

 low, especially at night. 



In building your sheep-corrals there is no need to 



make them so elaborate as those for horses or cattle, 



although a shed of the same design is a great con - 



9 



