134 BRITISH SHEEP AND SHEPHERDING. 



shears. The cutting should not be done with the point of the 

 shears, but with the portion two inches or more below. If done 

 with the point there is great liability to raze the skin, causing 

 it to show a red mark, and rendering it very easy of attack by 

 flies. The shears should always be kept flat on the part to be 

 shorn, with the points slightly raised. The lower blade should be 

 employed as a guide through the wool to open it up and to make 

 a definite shearing line ; for this reason it must be kept steady 

 and the upper blade be brought down to it. This distinguishes 

 shearing from clipping. Clipping off locks is of a similar nature 

 to clipping a hedge, where both blades are moved. A clapping 

 action is distinctly opposed to low cutting, as the shears very soon 

 " ride out " of the wool. The point of the shears should be thrust 

 into the wool, and then the hand be allowed to fall back slightly ; 

 this permits locks which have been over -pulled so as to lift small 

 pieces of skin into a dangerous position to tighten on the body, 

 so that, being then in a natural position, they are not cut. The 

 operation is unconsciously performed after a little practice, and 

 it is of the greatest importance where the wool is matted together 

 and where the skin is thinnest. 



The shearing should be done in such a manner that the lines 

 are perfectly vertical, as then the neatest appearance is obtained ; 

 and it is highly essential that the wool be well cleared off the back 

 along the spine. If the wool forms a ridge along the spine the 

 sheep's back appears narrow. Everyone knows the advantage 

 of a flat back as representing good condition. Very skilled shearers 

 can make the left and right hand cuts meet exactly on the spine. 

 The beginner should not aim at taking a wide cut, and the neatest 

 work is done with a " blow " from half to three-quarters of an inch 

 in width. Should the skin be cut, a small quantity of tar should 

 be put on the wound to keep off flies, and to keep out injurious 

 matter, for occasionally blood -poisoning is caused when the wounds 

 are left unprotected. 



Care should be taken to keep the fleece clean and unbroken. It 

 should be carefully wound into a bundle. It should be laid out 

 flat, the inside downwards, then the sides turned over so that it 

 forms a narrow strip eighteen inches or so wide ; beginning at 

 the tail end it should be compactly rolled up, and by twisting 

 a portion of the wool about the neck to form a bend, be tightly 

 bound. Wool should be stored in wool sheets in a dry, sweet 

 room, and it is essential that it be perfectly dry when stored. 

 A damp floor or damp walls must be avoided. Sheep carrying 

 very short broken wool may not be possible to shear with a whole 

 fleece, in which case the fleece requires to be tied by string. 



When shearing stock sheep less care is necessary than when 

 fat sheep are to be sent to the market at once, when the greatest 



