l\m 



SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN THE SOUTH. 



the cut, of |-inch round iron, drawn smaller toward the point — and the 

 point made safe by a knob. The other end is furnished 

 with a socket, which receives a handle six or eis^ht leet 

 long. The manner of using it is thus desciibed in Mr. Ste- 

 phens's admirable " Book of the Farm " : 



" The hind-leg is hooked in at a, from behind the sheep, and it fills np 

 she narrow part beyond a, while passing along it until it reaches the loop, 

 when the animal is caught by the hock, and when secured, its foot ea- 

 lily slips through the loop. Some caution id recjuired in using the crook, 

 or should the sheep give a sudden start forwaid to get away, the mo- 

 ment it feels the crook the leg will be drawn forcibly through the narrow 

 »art, and strike the bone with such violence agiiinst the bend of the loop 

 ts to cause the animal considerable pain, and even occasion lameness for 

 wme days. On first embracing the leg, the crook should be dravni 

 quickly towai-d you, so as to bring the bond of the loop against the leg as 

 high up as the hock, beli)re the sheep has time even to break otV, and be- 

 ing secure, its struggles will cease the moment your hand seizes the leg." 



No flock-master should be without this implement, as it 

 saves a vast deal of yarding, running, &c., and leads to 

 a prompt exainination of every improper or suspicious ap- 

 pearance, and a timely application of remedy or preven- 

 tive — which would often be deferred if the whole flock had 

 to be driven to a distant yard, to enable the shepherd to 

 catch a particular sheep. 



Dexterity in the use of the crook is speedily acquired by any one ; and 

 if a flock are properly tame, any one of its nu-nber can be readily caught 

 by it, at salting-time — or, generally, at other times, by a person with whom 

 the flock are familiar. But it is at the lambing-time, when sheep and lamba 

 require to be so repeatedly caught, that the crook is more particularly ser 

 viceable. For this purpose, at this time alone, it will pay for itself ten 

 times over in a single season, in saving time, to say nothing of th« advan 

 •^age of the sheep. 



SHEPHKRD : 

 CROOK. 



