324 THE WOOL CROP 



place, every precaution should be taken to keep the wool clean. 

 While the fleece is being removed the sheep should be placed on 

 a smooth board platform about ten feet square; the sheep awaiting 

 shearing should be penned where they will not drag manure and 

 litter with them as they are brought to the shearing place. 



Requirements for Good Shearing. A good job of shearing 

 consists in cutting the wool off snfoothly close to the body. 



The power machine will cut closer than the hand shears, but 

 satisfactory work may be done with the latter if the operator is 

 careful and possesses some skill. It is the tendency of the unskilled 

 shearer, whether using the machine or hand shears, to fail to 

 cut close to the sheep's body. For example, the shearer may start 

 to cut close to the body, but in advancing the shears he cannot 

 follow the shape of the animal, and hence some of the wool is cut 

 from a half to an inch away from the skin. He can, and usually 

 does, back up and cut close where he failed in his first attempt. 

 This makes what is known as second cuts. Because they are so 

 short they are of low value for manufacturing purposes. It is 

 also obvious that the evil of making second 1 cuts makes the fibers 

 in the main body of the fleece shorter and uneven in length, and 

 therefore less desirable. 



In doing good shearing it is also necessary to get the fleece off 

 without getting it torn apart. After setting a sheep on its rump, 

 there is a knack of holding it so that it will not kick and struggle 

 violently. Its body should be tilted 1 back towards the knees of 

 the operator so that its hind legs cannot get sufficient contact with 

 the floor to make effective resistance. It is the adjustment of this 

 position that is equivalent to the knack of holding. 



Power shearing machines are gradually replacing the hand 

 shears. The power machine does smoother work, makes fewer 

 second cuts, and does not cut the skin of the sheep so badly. 

 The amateur shearer can do much better with the power machine. 

 In various places in the western part of the United States, the 

 hand shears are still used because the power machine cuts so close 

 that the sheep will blister if it turns hot or they will suffer if it turns 

 cold. If thick combs are used, however, it is not necessary to cut 

 extremely close with the power machine. 



Tying the Fleece. Several things must be done to make a 

 good job of tying the fleece. First, in order to make an honest 

 package, all tag lots must be removed whether they be of dung, 



