SHEEP SHEARING. 



133 



in shearing with or against the fall of the wool is as marked as that 

 of cutting a laid field of corn with and against the direction in 

 which it lies. A man who can work with but one hand must 

 work one side with the fall instead of against it. The wool hangs 

 vertically from the spine, except on the belly, where it tends 

 towards the opposite direction ; thus in shearing the near side, 

 to obtain the best results, the work has to be done with the right 

 hand from the belly 

 to the spine ; and on 

 the underline with 

 the left hand from 

 the line of the navel 

 to the outside of the 

 underline. In or- 

 dinary work, the 

 belly being out of 

 sight, the wool is 

 generally cut off with- 

 out regard to this. 

 It is usual to shear 

 all round the neck to 

 the shoulders, after 

 which one side is 

 completed before the 

 other is commenced. 

 A novice finds con- 

 siderable difficulty in 

 holding the sheep 

 conveniently. The 

 sheep should at all 

 times be held in such 

 a way that the por- 

 tion being clipped 

 stands out promi- 

 nently, as then the 

 skin is taut ; whereas 

 when loose it lies in 

 wrinkles, which are 



likely to be cut. The skin may be further tightened] by 

 stretching the shorn portion towards the shearer ; but if the 

 uncut wool is pushed back small pieces of skin are lifted up 

 and are inevitably cut off by the shears. The shearer learns 

 by practice how to make portions he is working on bulge out, 

 using his own legs and body for the purpose. In holding the 

 sheep he often has to hold a portion of it between his arms 

 and body, leaving both hands free to manipulate the skin and the 



SHEARING BY MACHINERY. 



