80 



SKETCHES OP RURAL AFFAIRS. 



for shearing, which is not until the " yolk " is come into 

 it again the natural oil of the skin is thus called by 

 farmers and this improves the fleece greatly, making it 

 soft and elastic. The heat or coolness of the weather 

 will likewise shorten or lengthen the time between 

 washing and shearing. 



ipBfeW" 



The shearing place is usually a barn. It is a pretty 

 sight when sheep are sheared on the grass ; but this is 

 not often done with safety in a climate like ours. A 

 shower of rain, or a heavy fall of dew, may destroy the 

 fine condition of the fleece. It is true that the barn- 

 floor is a hard place for the kneeling shearers, as well as 

 for the sheep ; but in order to remedy this, it is some- 

 times prepared for the purpose by laying down some 



