134 



MANAGEMENT OF SHEEP. 



(^9.) Washing. The time for clipping varies much, 

 boin^ earlier in seasons which have been preceded by 

 favourable weather and an unstinted allowance of 

 food, than in such as have followed a rigorous winter, 

 disease, or any other cause calculated to arrest the 

 growth of wool. The season may be said to be limited 

 by the middle of May and the middle of July ; but this 

 should not be taken as a rule of conduct, the best guide 

 being the state of the new coat, which ought always to 

 be well above the skin before shearing is attempted. 

 The wool, unless among some mountain flocks,, is 

 always, in this country, washed prior to its removal 

 from the sheep's back ; but in Spain that operation is 

 always deferred till the fleeces have been collected, 

 when they are subjected to a thorough scouring, in 

 pubHc buildings appropriated to the purpose, and 

 termed lavatories. This is a plan in many respects 

 superior to ours. Its adoption by our farmers has been 

 recommended by Dr Parry. There cannot be a doubt 

 of its being the preferable mode as regards the saving 

 it would effect in the lives of sheep ; but as it is well 

 known that shearing is much facilitated by washing, 

 and that on the neatness with which the clipping is 

 accomplished the quality of the succeeding crop in a 

 great measure depends, some little time will be neces- 

 sary to determine the comparative value of either mode. 

 In New South Wales it is customary to make the 

 sheep swim across a stream for two or three mornings 

 before being washed, by which means the yolk is 

 softened, and the removal of grease and dirt much pro- 

 moted ; but this, though a good plan in that mild and 

 even climate, could not be looked upon as safe in t 



