WASHING, SHEARING AND MARKING 201 



be shorn much before that time, unless it be a hill 

 flock running without shelter. 



For washing sheep a considerable body of water 

 is required. It is usual to take advantage of a creek 

 or natural pool. The sheep are immersed, the wool 

 squeezed a little between the hands and they are 

 permitted to go out and drain themselves on the 

 bank. No soap is used, as the oil of the wool is 

 itself readily dissolved in water, and it is this oil 

 only that is sought to be removed. It is usual to 

 allow ten days or two weeks to elapse after washing 

 before the sheep are shorn; and, in fact, it is not 

 easy to shear them as soon as they are dry owing to 

 the difficulty in penetrating the wool with the shears 

 until more oil has been secreted in the wool. 



WASHING AND SHEARING. 



The dipping tank can be used for washing sheep, 

 but not unless there can in some way be secured a 

 continuous stream of water to flow through it. The 

 sheep should not drain back into the tank in case 

 it is used. It is to be hoped that this custom of 

 washing will soon be one of ancient history wher- 

 ever sheep are grown. 



Some sheep owners have their fleeces tub-washed 

 after being taken from the sheep's back. This is 

 not difficult to do, only that the drying is slow and 

 it ought not to be necessary. 



The writer, living on the fortieth parallel, usually 

 shears his ewe flock the first week in April and 

 sometimes the last week in March. 



