43^ MANAGEMENT AND FEEDING OF SHEEP 



cause of the larger number of the animals that may be 

 in it at one time, but the more expensive will it be in the 

 quantity of the dip called for. It should not be less than 

 20 feet, and in some instances may exceed 100 feet. The 

 depth is from 4 to 5 feet, and the width from 24 to 30 

 inches at the top and 9 to 12 inches at the bottom. It 

 should be sunk in the ground, save the top 9 to 12 inches, 

 and should slant a little in the bottom toward the receiv- 

 ing end to facilitate the emptying or removing of the dip. 

 It should be protected by a low fence at the places of en- 

 trance and exit, to keep the sheep in correct line. Toward 

 the place of exit the floor of the vat should incline up- 

 ward, the length of the incline being not less than 9 feet, 

 and it should have slats or cleats across it about a foot or 

 less in distance from one another to enable the sheep to 

 walk up and into the dripping pens. (3) There should be 

 two dripping pens, with a swinging gate at the upper end 

 of the incline, which may open or close either of the two. 

 When one division is filled with sheep that have been 

 dipped the gate is closed on these until the other is filled. 

 The former are then removed through a gate at the far- 

 ther end of the pen, which is then ready to receive another 

 lot. The floor of each dripping pen should slant some- 

 what toward the fence between them. Under it should 

 be a gutter to carry the drip back into the vat, but at the 

 end near the vat there should be a wire grate to hold 

 back droppings and wool that may have been carried 

 downward. (4) Provision should be made for preparing 

 the dip when such preparing is needed and for heating it, 

 whatsoever kind may be used. When prepared dips are 

 used water is led into the vat. The dip is then added ac- 

 cording to the directions, and it may be heated by steam 

 conveyed through a hose attached to a heater. This, 

 however, does not preclude the necessity for a boiler to 

 heat fresh ooze for replenishing the supply in the vats. 

 It will be advantageous to have two heating or boiling 

 tanks that will hold from 300 to 400 gallons, and these 



