108 ON SHEEP'S WOOL, 



were left upon the lambs. The year following the 

 same lambs being wholly shorn, and the half-fleeces 

 weighed separately ; that is, those a year old, and 

 those which were as old as the lamb ; it was 

 found, in estimating the wool of these different shear- 

 ings, that the part of the body of the lambs, which 

 was shorn only once, had produced wool nearly to 

 the value of that of the part, which had been twice 

 shorn ; the difference being only some sous (cents) 

 more or less, upon each of the six lambs. 



Q. What treatment is proper to be pursued after 

 the sheep are shorn ? 



A. If some signs of the itch are perceived, it 

 should be rubbed with an ointment made of grease 

 or tallow, and the spirits of turpentine. If the skin 

 has been wounded by the shears, the same ointment 

 is good for such small wounds. 



Q. How is this ointment made ? 



A. Melt a pound of tallow in summer, and of 

 grease in winter ; take it from the fire, and mix with 

 the tallow or grease a quarter of a pound of the oil of 

 turpentine, or more, if necessary, to cure the itch. 



Q. What is to be feared for the sheep after shear- 

 ing? 



A- Great heat of the sun, and cold rains, for ten 

 or twelve days after shearing : a hot sun hardens the 

 skin on the back like horn, and disposes it to the 

 itch ; while cold rains give them cold, and chill them 

 to the degree of producing death, if not speedily 

 warmed. 



Q. By what precautions may these dangers be 

 avo i ded ? 



