MODERN SHEEP: BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 217 



not yet in sight. If every sheepman in the United States would 

 dip his sheep thoroughly at proper intervals in some good pro- 

 prietary dip we should be soon free from such terrible scourges as 

 scab, ticks, etc. Australia, whose flocks are the largest in the world 

 and which at one time were so badly affected with scab, is now a 

 scabless country,^nd with the same persistent effort .shown by our 

 Australian friends our country could likewise be a scabless coun- 

 try, for if it can be reduced with care with a little extra care it can 

 be eradicated ; this has been proven beyond all doubt. 



Directly after shearing it is a good plan to dip the lambs, as 

 at this time ticks leave the newly shorn ewes and make their home 

 on them. While no doubt a good deal of. good has been accom- 

 plished by the enforcement by the Department of Agriculture of 

 the use of lime and sulphur as a dip, there is no doubt at all but 

 what a great deal more good could be accomplished by the use of 

 first-class proprietary dips in lieu of the lime and sulphur con- 

 coction. 



From sentiment expressed to the writer by prominent western 

 flock owners it is clear that sheepbreeders generally are depending 

 largely upon Dr. A. D. Melvin, chief of the Bureau of Animal 

 Husbandry of the Department of Agriculture, to bring about cer- 

 tain modifications in our government dipping regulations that 

 will be to their benefit, as that gentleman is looked upon as being 

 thoroughly familiar with the scientific and practical end of the 

 dipping question. By his efforts in getting meritorious proprie- 

 tary dips recognized, through actual tests by the Department, he 

 has done much by way of harmonizing the interests of the Depart- 

 ment and sheepmen generally, and his endeavors will tend materi- 

 ally toward bringing about cooperation in a campaign for the 

 eradication of the scab mite that cannot prove other than suc- 

 cessful. 



As the writer pens these words he is in receipt of news to the 

 effect that a western party has just experienced the loss of 500 

 head of sheep through dipping them in the pernicious concoction 

 known as lime and sulphur dip, while other small losses are made 

 mention of. 



No breeder of first-class sheep would think of dipping his 

 sheep or lambs in such a violent preparation, as he well knows 

 that his pocketbook must suffer in consequence, not to mention 

 the suffering of the animal dipped. 



About six weeks or two months after shearing the whole 

 flock, both ewes and lambs should be dipped, as such a course will 

 insure immunity from scab and other parasitic troubles for a con- 

 siderable time. 



Fall dipping, which was at one time looked upon with con- 

 siderable disfavor, is now looked upon as an annual event. 



Where neglect of dipping at the proper season of the year 



