230 THE COMPLETE FAHMER 



days in a clean pasture, before they are shorn. It is good 

 for them to have time to sweat a little in their wool, after 

 washing,' 



Mr. Lawrence says, ' June seems [in England] to be the 

 general shearing month, and where no extraordinary precau- 

 tions are taken, the business had better be delayed till to- 

 wards midsummer, more especially in cold backward springs; 

 because in such seasons we seldom until that period have 

 any settled fair weather. Besides, a more perfect fleece is 

 obtained, and fuller of yolk from the perspiration of the ani- 

 mal. 



' Washing previous to clipping the sheep is the general 

 custom, with few exceptions, in this country ; indeed it is 

 proper with all long-wooled sheep, but not so easily practi- 

 cable Avith the matted, greasy, and impenetrable fleeces of 

 the Spanish and carding-wool breed, which in Spain they 

 invariably shear dry, as has been the practice in Devonshire, 

 with the short-wooled sheep, for centuries.' 



It is observed by Loudon, that ' sheep shearing in Rom- 

 ney I^Iarsh, [England] commences about midsummer and 

 finishes about the middle of July. Those who shear latest 

 apprehend that they gain half a pound weight in every fleece, 

 by the increased perspiration of the sheep and consequent 

 growth of the wool. Besides, they say, in early shearing the 

 wool has not the condition which it afterwards acquires. 

 But then in late shearing the fleece will have the less time 

 to grow, so as to protect the animal against the rigors of the 

 succeeding winter ; and if a year's interval is allowed be- 

 tween each clipping time, after your routine is established 

 the wool will have had the same period for its growth, 

 whether you shear early or late. Sheep with fine fleeces, 

 which are shorn without being washed on the back of the 

 animal, may be clipped earlier in the season than those 

 which are exposed to suffer for half an hour or more in cold 

 water.' 



Lemuel W. Briggs, Esq., of Bristol, Rhode Island, in arti- 

 cles published in the New England Farmer, volume ili. pages 

 273, 287, stated certain facts, which would seem favorable to 

 early shearing; and in certain circumstances, and particu- 

 larly with sheep which are not washed, there can be no doubt 

 but the practice is beneficial. Mr. Briafgs stated in substance, 

 that Mr. Rouse Potter, of Prudence island, Narraganset bay, 

 Rhode Island, who kept nine hundred and fifty sheep, and 

 lost but two the preceding winter, begins to shear them by 



