[143] 



producing extravasation of blood under the skin that causes 

 the wool to shed at that point. He should grasp him by 

 the legs and plunge the sheep under two or three times until 

 he is thoroughly wet, then allowing him to stand on his 

 legs, the wool is rubbed, the matted parts opened, and the 

 legs washed free of dung, as near as may be, without keep- 

 ing the sheep in too long. The sheep should then be passed 

 to another washer, who stands above him, and well rinsed, 

 and then turned into a clean, grassy meadow, squeezing as 

 much water out of the wool as possible. Ewes not having 

 given birth to their lambs should be more carefully handled 

 than the others, but if carefully washed, no harm will re- 

 sult. Good hands will wash about one sheep to every min- 

 ute, if sufficient help is given in passing them down. After 

 washing they should be kept in a clean meadow to prevent 

 the adherence of dirt until the wool dries, which will be 

 according to the weather, in five or seven days. Some 

 people erect a dam across a small stream or branch, and 

 conduct the water through a race three or four feet long to 

 a platform or bridge, and with a pen on one side for the 

 sheep, they can be washed without the necessity of stand- 

 ing in water, and with a gum apron and boots the washer 

 will be able to keep perfectly dry. 



Shearing. When the sheep has got not only perfectly 

 dry, but when the yolk that has been washed out has had 

 time to re-form, making the fleece feel soft and mellow, it 

 is then ready for shearing. This should be done as the 

 washing is, by careful, gentle hands, and no violence should 

 be shown the sheep, which is an exceedingly timid animal. 

 The shearer should be provided with a good sharp pair of 

 shears and a good whetstone, as the condition of the instru- 

 ment greatly expedites the operation. He should also have 

 a bench with legs about waist high, to relieve himself from 

 the tedium of a long continued forced posture. 



A good, warm, bright day should be selected, and not as 

 is too often the case, wait for a rainy day when nothing can 



