i 3 4 THE SHEEP AND WOOL INDUSTRY 



in position. The two sides of the bale are then fastened by a 

 few stiches on each side where the two small pins are. The 

 needle is put through the side of the bale and through the 

 two flaps three or four times, where they overlap. Sometimes 

 a stitch is put in the centre also. The skewers are then pulled 

 out and the pressing and fastening of the bale is completed 

 (see illustration.) Bales fastened in this manner hold splendidly. 

 In placing fleeces in the bale they should be put in layers, 

 not bundled in anyhow. For fleece wool the weight in a bale 

 should be about 300 or 320 Ib. Locks and stained pieces 

 can be made considerably heavier. A large number of small 

 growers do not brand their wool properly, some just placing 

 two or three small letters on the bales, also a description of 

 the wool it contains. Bales branded in this manner are very 

 liable to go astray, or be mistaken for another client's wool. The 

 best way to brand the bales is to put the owner's initials on 

 the top of the bale, and immediately underneath them the name 

 of the farm or station. The description of the wool in the 

 bale, such as First or Second Combing, etc., should follow, then 

 the sex or age of the sheep, as E. for ewes, W.H. for wether 

 hoggets, and then the number of the bale. The bales should 

 be branded on one end with the name of the farm or station, 

 and underneath that the number, so that they can be seen in 

 a stack without having to pull it to pieces. (See illustrations.) 



