GROWING AND FITTING SHEEP FOR EXHIBITION 271 



The same is true of all the long and coarse wool breeds. 

 Owing to peculiarities of wool formation, smearing them 

 would make them appear ludicrous. 



Of course, show sheep should be kept free from ticks. 

 This may necessitate dipping them as lambs, and also 

 annually when shown in subsequent years. The dipping 

 may be done in the usual way, and along with the other 

 members of the flock ; or it may be done by using a small 

 tank, and separately, as a prevention against the possi- 

 bility of injury (see page 433). The wisdom of combining 

 dipping and ordinary washing is at least to be questioned. 

 Dipping rather detracts from the external beauty of the 

 fleece for a time. Hence an interval of say not less than 

 six weeks should elapse between the time of dipping and 

 the showing of the sheep. 



Special treatment for Merino sheep When prepar- 

 ing Merinos for the fairs, the feeding called for is the 

 same virtually as for other sheep. Additional precautions, 

 however, are called for to secure that condition in the 

 wool that commends it to the skilled judge. Should Me- 

 rino sheep be exposed to outdoor conditions up to the 

 time of the fairs, the fleece would have a rough and shaggy 

 appearance externally. It would not have that exquis- 

 itely soft response to the sense of touch so much desired 

 in Merino wool. Nor would the yolk be found in that 

 condition and distribution which would result in high- 

 est luster and beauty in the wool fibers on all parts of the 

 body. 



While all the characteristics such as belong to high 

 quality wool in the Merino fleece should be sought (see 

 Chapter III), the following are to be regarded as spe- 

 cially important: (i) Absolute freedom in the external 

 surface of the wool from clots and indurations and much 

 softness and moistness to the touch ; (2) a beautiful lus- 

 trous condition of the wool when the fleece is opened on 

 any part of the body ; (3) an even distribution of the yolk 

 along the entire length of the wool, resulting in a glis- 



