378 JUNE. 



part, and walk out at the other mouth, where is a 

 clean pen, or a very^clean dry pasture, to receive 

 them. Of course there is a bridge railway to the 

 tubs; and a pen at the first mouth of the water, 

 whence the sheep are turned into it, where they 

 may be soaking a few minutes before being driven 

 to the washers. 



Shearing is a business very ill performed in many 

 parts of the kingdom, so that it is probable that 

 one or two ounces of wool are left on an average 

 on all the sheep in it, which is mischievous to the 

 next growth ; for wool is in this respect like grass, 

 ft will not thrive well if it be not cut close. This 

 bad flipping arises much from longitudinal cutting. 

 The improvement of clipping circularly round the 

 body of the sheep began in Lincolnshire, and thence 

 passed into Leicestershire. The Earl of Egremont 

 was assiduous in introducing it into Sussex, the 

 Duke of Bedford into Bedfordshire, and Mr. Coke 

 into Norfolk ; so that gradually it will spread over 

 the kingdom. Possibly the motive for this mode 

 of shearing was to add to the beauty of the animal. 

 I know not whether there are shearers who can cut 

 as close in a different direction, but I never saw it 

 done. Tn winding the wool, there are some absurd 

 acts of parliament which operate: confidence in the 

 common course of business ensures good washing, 

 and so it will fair winding ; for he who once sells 

 dirt clots and sand for wool, will find the loss when 

 he deals again. 



In 



