Shearing and Dipping the Flock. 93 



these should certainly not be allowed to shear 

 sheep. 



In older countries shearers tie up all four legs 

 of the sheep to prevent it from struggling. This 

 old-fashioned way, however, should not be prac- 

 ticed in America. A sheep, if properly held, can- 

 not do a great deal of struggling. Just how to hold 

 the sheep in the many different positions neces- 

 sary while shearing it could hardly be fully ex- 

 plained, but must be learned through actual prac- 

 tice. The best way for the beginner to learn how 

 to hold and shear sheep is to watch an expert 

 shear a few sheep. It may be stated, however, 

 that in every position the sheep must be held so 

 as to draw the skin tight where the shearer is 

 working. The sheep should also always be held in 

 the most comfortable position instead of in the 

 cramped positions in which some shearers hold 

 sheep. One of the positions in which the sheep 

 is held while being sheared is shown in the ac- 

 companying illustration. 



TYING UP THE FLEECE. 



The fleeces should be neatly tied up in order to 

 make them look attractive to the buyer. The side 

 of the fleece which was next to the sheep's skin 

 should be placed on the outside when the fleece 

 is tied up, in such a way that no parts of the for- 



