FARM APPLIANCES. 



his nose, and from these rings small ropes run back as 

 seen in the illustration. Staples are driven into the top 

 of the yoke through which the cords pass. It is claimed 

 that with these reins a yoke of oxen can be guided and 

 controlled with ease. The rings are quickly removed 

 from the noses when work hours are over. 



VAT FOE DIPPING SHEEP. 



Sheep should be dipped twice a year. They suffer a 

 great deal from vermin, which are destroyed by the dip- 

 ping. After shearing, the ticks greatly annoy the lambs, 

 upon which they gather from the shorn sheep and prevent 



Fig. 117. PORTABLE VAT. 



their growth. The lambs, at least, should be dipped, to 

 free them from these pests, but it is well to dip the whole 

 flock, as a safeguard against the prevalent scab, and other 

 skin diseases. A very good dipping vat is shown in fig- 

 ure 117. It is made of one and a quarter inch tongue 

 and grooved boards, put together at the joints with pitch, 

 and is furnished with handles, with which it can be 

 moved from place to place. It may be six feet long, 

 three feet wide, and three feet deep. The sloping ends 

 have cleats nailed across them on the inside, by which 

 the sheep are assisted to get out of the vat^ upon a 

 draining floor placed to receive them. A good dip is 

 made of one pound of coarse tobacco, and one pound 

 of sulphur, steeped in five gallons of boiling water. It 



