90 DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 



8. Emasculation and Docking. " These should usually pre- 

 cede washing, as at that period the oldest lambs will be about 

 a month old, and it is safer to perform the operations when 

 they are a couple of weeks younger. Dry, pleasant weather 

 should be selected. Castration is a simple and safe process. 

 Let a man hold the lamb with its back pressed firmly against 

 his breast and stomach, and all four legs gathered in front in 

 his hands. Out off the bottom of the pouch, free the testicle 

 from the inclosing membrane, and then draw it steadily out, or 

 clip the cord with a knife, if it does not snap off at a proper 

 distance from the testicle. Some shepherds draw both testicles 

 at once with their teeth. It is common to drop a little salt into 

 the pouch. Where the weather is very warm, some touch the 

 end of the pouch (and that of the tail, after that is cut off) 

 with an ointment, consisting of tar, lard, and turpentine. In 

 ninety -nine cases out of a hundred, however, they will do just 

 as well, here, without any application. 



" The tail should be cut off, say one and a half inches from the 

 body, with a chisel on the head of a block, the skin being slid 

 up toward the body with a finger and thumb, so that it will 

 afterward cover the end of the stump. Severed with a knife, 

 the end of the tail being grasped with one of the hands in the 

 ordinary way, a naked stump is left which takes some time to 

 heal. 



"It may occur to some unused to keeping sheep, that it is 

 unnecessary to cut off the tail. If left on, it is apt to collect 

 filth, and if the sheep purges, it becomes an intolerable nui- 

 sance. 



9. Washing. " This is usually done here about the first of 

 June. The climate of the Southern States would admit of its 

 being done earlier. The rule should be to wait until the water 

 has acquired sufficient warmth for bathing, and until cold rains 

 and storms, and cold nights are no longer to be expected. 



10. Shearing. " It is difficult, if not impossible, to give intel- 

 ligible practical instructions which would guide an entire nov- 

 ice in skillfully shearing a sheep. Practice is requisite. The 



