326 ^ SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN THE SOUTH. 



yard is built opposite the corners of two fields (1 and 2), to take advantage of 

 the angle of one of them (1), to drive the sheep more readily into the yard. 

 (3). This yard should be large enough to hold the whole flock, if it does not 

 exceed 200 ; and the bottojn of it, as well as of the smaller yard (5), un- 

 less well sodded over, should be covered with coarse gravel, to avoid be- 

 coming muddy. If the same establishment is used by a number of flock- 

 masters, graveling will be always necessary. As soon as the flock are 

 confined in yard 3, the lambs are all immediately caught out from among 

 them, and set over the fence into yard 4. This is to prevent their being 

 trampled down, as it often happens, by the old sheep, or straying ofl' if let 

 loose. As many sheep are then driven out of yard 3 into the smaller yard 

 5 as it will conveniently hold. A boy stands by the gate next to the vat, 

 to open and shut it (or the gate is drawn shut with a chain and weight), and 

 two men, catching the sheep as directed under the head of tagging, com- 

 mence placing them in the water for the preparatory process of " wetting." 

 As soon as the water strikes through the wool, which occupies but an in- 

 stant, the sheep is lifted out and let loose.* The vat should, of course, be 

 in an inclosed field, to prevent their escape. The whole flock should thus 

 be passed over, and again driven round through field 1 into yard 3, where 

 they should stand, say, an hour, before washing commences. There is 

 a large per centage of potasht in the wool oil, which acts upon the dirt, 

 independently of the favorable effect which would result from thus 

 soaking it for some time with water alone. If washed soon after a good 

 shower, previous wetting might be dispensed with ; and it is not absohitelif 

 necessary, perhaps, in any case. If the water is warm enough to keep the 

 sheej) in it for the requisite period, they may be got clean by washing 

 without any previous wetting — though the snowy whiteness of fleece which 

 tells so on the ^?^^7•c7^«scr, is not so often nor so perfectly attained in the 

 latter way. Little time is saved by omitting " wetting," as it takes propor- 

 tionably longer to wash, and it is not so well for the sheep to be kept such 

 a length of time in the water at once. 



When the washing commences, two and sometimes four sheep are 

 plunged into the vat. When four are put in, two soak while two are 

 washed. But this should not be done, unless the water is very warm, and 

 the washers are uncommonly quick and expert. On the whole, it is rather 

 an objectionable practice, for few animals suffer as much from the effects 

 of a chill as sheep. If they have been previously wetted, it is wholly un- 

 necessary. When the sheep are in the water, the two washers commence 

 kneading the wool with their hands about the bi-eech, belly, &c., (the 

 dirtier parts,) and they then continue to turn the sheep so that the descend- 

 ing current of water can strike into all parts of the fleece. As soon as 

 the sheep are clean, which may be known by the water running entirely 

 clear, each washer seizes his own by the fore parts, plunges it deep in the 

 vat, and taking advantage of the rebound, lifts it out, setting it gently 

 down on its breech on the platform. He then, if the sheep is old or 

 weak, (and it is well in all cases,) presses out some of the water from the 

 wool, and after submitting the sheep to a process presently to be adverted 

 to, lets it go. There should be no mud about the vat, the earth not cov- 

 ered with sod, being graveled. Sheep should be kept on clean pastures 

 from washing to shearing — not where they can come in contact with 



* Where there are conveniences for so doing, this process may be more easily peiformed by driving the 

 sheep through a stream deep enough to compel them to swim. But swimming the compact-fleeced, fine- 

 wcoled sheep for any length of time, as is practiced with the Long- Wools in England, will not properly 

 cleanse the wool for shearing. . 



f Vauquelin, quoted by Youatt, says that it consists mostly of soapy matter with a basis of potash ; 2. 

 Carb. of potash ; 3. Acetate of potash; 4. Lime; 5. Muriate of potash. 

 (646) 



