( i75 ) 



SECTION XXXVII. 



Method of treating Sheep before Shearing, by 

 Wajhing the Wool: Reafons why they fhould 

 go a certain 'Time in the Wool between Wajh- 

 ing and Shearing. 



SHEEP fhould be warned ten days at lead, 

 and not more than fourteen days before clipping, 

 the fheep are not fuffered to reft at leaft ten 

 days between the wafhing and clipping of 

 them, the wool will not have recovered the nat- 

 ural oil which has been expelled or fqueezed 

 out together with the filth in warning; and it 

 will be dry and hafk. Although the wool, if 

 clipped wet, would, when firft taken from the 

 iheep, weigh more than if clipped dry; yet, 

 after keeping it a little, you will find it con- 

 fiderably lighter than what has been taken off 

 the fheep dry. A fleece fhorn wet will foon 

 diminifh in weight : one taken offdry will not. 

 The reafon is obvious — The water which the 

 wool imbibes by warning, foon evaporates; 

 water being an heterogeneous intruder, and 

 foon expelled; whilft oil, one of the compo- 

 nent principles of wool, obftinately retains its 

 natural fituation. If 



