180 MANAGEMENT OF SHEEP, 



wool from the breast, front, and both sides of the neck — but 

 not yet the back of it — and also the poll or fore part, and 

 top of the head. Now the "jacket is opened" of the sheep, 

 and its position, and that of the shearer, is changed, by be- 

 ing turned flat upon its side, one knee of the shearer resting 

 on the cushion, and his other gently pressing the fore-quar- 

 ter of the animal, to prevent any 'struggling. He then re- 

 sumes cutting upon the flank and rump, and thence onwards 

 to the head. Thus one side is completed. The sheep is 

 then turned on to the other side, in doing which great care 

 is requisite to prevent the fleece from being torn, and the 

 shearer acts as upon the other, which finishes. He must 

 then take his sheep near to the door through which it is to 

 pass out, and neatly trim the legs, and leave not a solitary 

 lock anywhere as a harbor for ticks. It is absolutely neces- 

 sary for him to remove from his stand to trim, otherwise the 

 useless stuff from the legs becomes intermingled with the 

 fleece wool. 



In the use of the shears, let the blades be laid as flat to 

 the skin as possible, not lower the points too much, nor cut 

 more than from one to two inches at a clip, frequently not 

 so much, depending on the part, and compactness of the 

 wool. 



The above instructions being designed for a beginner, we 

 will suppose that this is his first and only attempt. Let his 

 employer, when he is about it, and it will be a good while, 

 have an eye on all his movements, kindly and carefully di- 

 recting them. After the pupil is through his maiden effort, 

 you will see him smoothing out the crinkles and aches from 

 his back and hips — for thus the poor fellow will feel — and if 

 the weather is warm — and of course it should be — wiping 

 the dripping sweat from his brow. But be easy ; let him 

 blow a while before he catches another sheep, for if you hur- 

 ry him, long before night you will hear murmured from his 

 lips, that " shearing is a back-breaking business — it's not 

 what it is cracked up to be," &c. &:c., indicating that he is 

 already disgusted with it, and if so, adieu to his ever arriving 

 at skilfulness. But if he has time afforded to straighten 

 himself, and is patted with kind compliments " upon his un- 

 expected well-doing — that he improves with each successive 

 sheep — and that he will be sure to make a first-rate shear- 

 er," you will bring him under the yoke without his knowing 

 its hardships. He will probably shear eight or ten the first 



