THE EARTH'S BOUNTY 



the spring; it is an operation needing cour- 

 age and experience, which is much better 

 gained on sheep, as they are still and gentle 

 when frightened, which, of course, all poor 

 creatures are under such unaccustomed treat- 

 ment. The two important points are not to 

 hurt the animal, or cut the hair more than 

 once. The nervous and inexperienced man is 

 apt to take two or more " snips " before really 

 severing the fleece, which materially injures 

 its marketable value; length being even more 

 desirable for some purposes than luster or 

 texture. Having sheep as well as goats to 

 shear, we bought a machine for the work, and 

 found it a great saving, both in this respect 

 and time. As a fleece falls from a goat it 

 should be rolled up, inside out, but not tied or 

 fastened in any way. In the South shearing 

 is done twice a year, because the mild climate 

 is apt to cause shedding, but as the mohair 

 cannot gain its full length in less than a year, 

 nothing can be gained by adopting the custom 

 in this part of the country. 



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