270 MANAGEMENT AND FEEDING OF SHEEP 



it is more popular even now than in America. Smearing 

 or coloring sheep means saturating the surface of the 

 body, more especially along the back or sides, with some 

 prepared coloring matter. Various mixtures are used. 

 These vary with the fashion in favor at the time. A mix- 

 ture much in favor is made by using yellow ocher, burnt 

 umber and olive oil. The ocher in powdered form is 

 added to the oil. The umber is next added, until the 

 mixture has the desired shade. It is applied by pouring 

 a small quantity into the palm of one hand, rubbing the 

 palms together and then applying to the fleece. The ap- 

 plication is more effective when applied after trimming 

 the fleece, and blankets should then be used. It is claimed 

 that more of uniformity in appearance is secured by 

 smearing, but it injures the wool somewhat for manufac- 

 turing uses. Some breeders use it as a sort of trade 

 mark by which their sheep may be distinguished from 

 others. The practice probably originated, in a degree, 

 to protect the sheep from the cold rains of autumn and 

 winter. But since sheep fitted for fairs are not exposed 

 to such storms, it is at least questionable if smearing as 

 such should find countenance in the show ring. 



Smearing is only practiced with certain breeds. It is 

 practiced more or less with all the Down and dark-faced 

 breeds, including the Southdown, Shropshire, Suffolk, 

 Hampshire and Oxford Down breeds. Why smearing is 

 practiced on these and not on certain other breeds is not 

 altogether apparent. The whims of the exhibitors of 

 these, and more especially of the shepherds, would seem 

 to be largely responsible for the innovation. Of course, 

 the dark face and legs of these breeds harmonize better 

 with dark shades in the fleece than would the white faces 

 and legs of other breeds. 



The fine-wool breeds are never smeared, as the natu- 

 ral gluing of the wool fibers at their tips renders such 

 smearing entirely unnecessary as a means of protection. 

 The Dorsets, Tunis and Cheviots are not thus smeared. 



