182 Sheep Management. 



right size and conformation, with the desirable 

 kind of fleece and skin, with the four legs prop- 

 erly set under them, and with all the style and 

 carriage possible. It never pays to fit sheep for 

 the show ring that are not built right, or as is often 

 said, born right, as the flesh and fitting alone will 

 not bring the sheep to the front in the ring if they 

 are lacking in these other respects. The competi- 

 tion is getting stronger year by year, and as a re- 

 sult greater care must be exercised each year in 

 the selection and fitting of sheep for the sho\\ 

 ring. 



siiKAKiNTi sm:i:i i OH mi: iiHi:i:i>iN(i CLASSKS. 



It is common among exhibitors in the breeding 

 classes to shear their sheep quite early in the 

 spring, for in the show ring a long fleece is desir- 

 able on breeding sheep. For this reason, this class 

 of sheep may be shorn as early as April 1, and a 

 good length, growth, and staple of wool can then 

 be had on the sheep at fair time. Some men shear 

 even earlier than April 1, but the writer is of the 

 opinion that sheep that are shorn too early have 

 not as much brightness and lustre in their fleeces 

 as those that are shorn at about the time stated. 

 Moreover, in the hot summer weather sheep with 

 too long fleeces do not do nearly as well as those 

 that have shorter fleeces. 



