WASHING. 



135 





temperature so variable as that of Brit-din. In cases 

 however, where great nicety is required, tiie plan in 

 vogue in the former country, that of dipping each 

 sheep, before washing, into a caldron of warm water, 

 ight be beneficially adopted. 



Mountain sheep are cleaned by being forced to swim 

 OSS a pool, but the finer or lowland breeds are 

 washed entirely by the hand. The latter method alone 

 demands a short explanation. Dry, and, if possible, 

 sunny weather, is selected for the operation, on the 

 morning of which the lambs are separated from the 

 flock, and the latter is conveyed to the margin of some 

 pebbly-bottomed pool. Here they are penned or 

 otherwise kept together, while they are seized, one by 

 one, by a man standing mid-thigh deep near the water- 

 edge, and turned back downwards, the head alone being 

 above the surface. Plate V. fig. 1.* It is then turned 

 from side to side, and moved backwards and forwards, 

 go as to make the wool catch upon the stream and wave 

 about. When the first washer has held it for a few 

 minutes, and partially cleansed the fleece, he passes it 

 up the river to the next, who goes through the same 

 routine, and, on being convinced that the skin is free 

 from filth, compels the sheep to land by swimming in an 

 oblique direction up the water. Three and even four 

 men are sometimes employed in washing sheep, but two> 

 as here described, will, under ordinary circumstances, 

 be found sufficient. The bank on which the dripping 

 sheep are collected, should have a clean and firm turf. 



• For the figures 1, 2 and 3 in Plate V. I am indebted to the QuarUri^ 

 Journal of AgricnUure far 1832, p. 86d. 



