172 MANAGEMENT OF SIIEEr. 



wide, and three and a half in depth. It is placed at the bot- 

 tom of a gentle fall, upon top of which is laid the troughs 

 that conduct the water into the vat, the elevation of them be- 

 ing about eighteen inches above the level of the top of the 

 vat. The dimensions of this are much larger than is neces- 

 sary for the farmer with a small number of sheep, as it ad- 

 mits of the use of two sets of troughs, and therefore calcu- 

 lated for the Avashing of two sheep simultaneously. All 

 circumstances being right, five to six hundred can be well 

 washed in it per day. 



On one side of the vat is a permanent platform made of 

 stone and floored with plank, the surface having a gentle in- 

 clination towards the vat, on which the sheep are held for a 

 minute or more, after being washed, that the water may 

 drain from the fleece. Beside the vat (not in it) and upon 

 the platform stands one of the washers, and a temporary 

 staging on the opposite side accommodates another. One 

 man is employed to bring the sheep from a small pound 

 close at hand, and put them into the vat, in which two are 

 held at a time by another at the lower end, for two or three 

 minutes, with a view to soften the dirt. The washers then 

 take them, and each holds one under the troughs or spouts, 

 turning them in every position to receive the full benefit 

 from the fall of the water, Avhich proceeds with such force 

 as to dislodge the dirt rapidly, and in a much briefer time 

 than it can be done by squeezing. When the supply of wa- 

 ter is full, no squeezing will be required, except, perhaps, 

 the belly and thigh wool. As soon as the sheep held by the 

 man for soaking pass from his hands to the washers, he is 

 immediately supplied with others ; and thus while two are 

 soaking, two others are being washed under the spouts. 

 One end of the vat being set a little below a level, the dirt 

 passes freely off, and consequently the water is compara- 

 tively pure, the good effects of which will be seen in the 

 almost cotton whiteness of the inner portion of the fleece. 

 As to eradicating all the dirt from the external surface of 

 wool when upon the sheep, it is not expected, for it is im- 

 possible to accomplish it ; and therefore it must necessarily 

 be left to the cleansing process of the manufacturer. But 

 that much more can be extracted than is usual, cannot admit 

 of a doubt ; and if a general trial will only be made, those 

 who undertake it will be sure to succeed, and rewarded not 

 only with the grateful thanks of manufacturers, but a hand- 



