MODERN SHEEP: BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 211 



SHEARING. 



In some countries shearing is looked upon as more of a 

 festival than as a laborious undertaking. This is especially true in 

 Great Britain. The time of shearing must be governed by climatic 

 conditions, or by conveniences of shelter. In some instances early 

 shearing is advisable and beneficial; in other cases, it is unadvis- 

 able and detrimental. To shear a flock of sheep and expose them 

 to the changeable weather of spring without available shelter is 

 not good management. Only a short time ago, an Australian lost 



The Shearing Machine Is Good for Both Sheep and Goats and Can Be Operated by 



Woman As Well As Man. 



a thousand out of a flock of 3,200 through recklessness of this 

 kind. It is a common practice with our eastern flockmasters to 

 shear those rams which they intend for the western trade quite 

 early in the spring, some as early as February, but, of course, they 

 have ample shelter provided. Shearing is done very much earlier 

 as a rule now than was customary a few years ago, no doubt be- 

 cause of better facilities for properly taking care of the flocks than 

 were in vogue before the improved breeds were handled to the 

 extent they are now. 



The old proverb that "God tempers the wind to the shorn 

 lamb" is scarcely true. Early shearing, as a rule, is best only 

 where proper shelter is provided for emergencies. There is no doubt 



