SHEEP SHEARING. 135 



neatness is desirable. In such eases the shearers take as broad 

 blows with the shears as the farmer will let them ; and the sheep 

 present a very rough appearance at times. In taking a broad blow 

 more wool is left on, and as in such work regard is not paid to 

 the hang of the wool, it is not cut so short as it might be. In 

 Scotland a considerable portion of the shearing is done while the 

 men are on their knees, only the opening up about the neck being 

 done while standing. This is suitable for small mountain sheep, 

 but the strong, heavy sheep in England are more conveniently 

 held in the manner already described. In Suffolk most of the 

 sheep are shorn by hand, and are placed on a slightly raised 

 platform, the legs being strapped ; this entails a cramping of 

 the sheep's body without any great gain over the free method 

 more commonly adopted with other big polled breeds. It is 

 probably a continuation of the practice followed where the Norfolk 

 and Suffolk sheep were horned ; and certainly there is advantage 

 in having horned sheep strapped, as the horns present inconvenience 

 to the free use of the arms and body in holding the sheep. 



