machine. Special precaution should be taken to keep the fleece free 

 from dirt and foreign material. 



There are several methods of shearing sheep, but the one illus- 

 trated herewith shows the essential points. The sheep should be 

 handled with care to prevent struggling and abuse. Set the sheep 

 on its rump, so that the hind legs are off the floor. Begin by open- 



Fig. 24. Shearing with a machine, beginning at the throat. 



ing up the fleece down the throat and along the median line of the 

 abdomen. In case the operator is right-handed, begin to the right 

 shearing the fleece free from head and legs. When this is accomplish- 

 ed, long strokes can be made in shearing the fleece from the sides anc 

 back. The fleece should not be torn, and is always kept away from 

 the sheep and the shearer^ the sheep is pivoted and turned in the 

 direction opposite to that in which the fleece falls. 



56 



