The Shepherds* Guide. 73 



shearing, the sheep have been exposed to severe 

 cold ; especially if accompanied by rain. Great 

 numbers have been lost in this, and all cold coun- 

 tries : but these losses may probably be attribut- 

 ed, with good reason, as much to the depriving 

 the animal under such circumstances of his warm 

 clothing, as to the washing. As, therefore, we 

 are likew^ise informed that the v/ool-buyers object 

 to the wool being shorn unwashed, stating ihat 

 they can form no just estimate of the real weight, 

 unless the general custom of the country is observ- 

 ed : and as washing the wool in warm water, 

 when performed by unskilful hands is frequently 

 found to felt the wool into rolls, and injure its 

 sale : and as it is not easy to turn the w^hole body 

 of farmers from their usual practice, it may be 

 best, at least for the present, to direct how it may 

 be well done, and with the least risk, than to for- 

 bid the practice altogether. 



Our mode is to wash the sheep in a running 

 stream, sufficiently deep for a man to go with the 

 sheep into the water up to his waist ; to plunge the 

 sheep repeatedly into the stream, and then to rub 

 the v/ool well in the water ; and finally, to press 

 out the water, beginning at the head, and pro- 

 ceeding to the extremities. From the middle of 

 May to the middle of June is the season ; and 

 we are careful to seize the opportunity of mild 

 and clear weather. After washing, and belbre 

 shearing, the sheep should be kept two or three 



G 



