THE SHEEP. 69 



SHEARING. 



This operation requires some experience to perform It 

 skilfully. Care should be taken to separate all the tags 

 before rolling up the fleece. Should wounds be made, 

 apply a mixture of tar and grease before turning them 

 out. The branding and marking operation should be 

 attended to at this time. For four or five weeks after 

 shearing they require a shelter during cold storms. For 

 want of this protection many perish during the month of 

 June. 



'TO PREVENT SHEEP FROM TAKING 

 COLD AFTER SHEARING. 



Sheep are sometimes unavoidably exposed to cold 

 winds and storms after shearing. To enable them to en- 

 dure this exposure, wash them Immediately with a brine 

 made of 1 qt. of salt and 1 pailful of water, applied with a 

 brush. This simple operation will not only enable them 

 to withstand the weather, but it will destroy any nits that 

 may adhere to them. 



TO LEARN THE AGE OF SHEEP. 



Their age can be ascertained from the front teeth. At 

 one year old there are eight feill teeth ; at two years, the 

 two middle ones fall out, and two much larger ones ap- 

 pear in their place ; at three years, one on each side of 

 these last named likewise fall out, whose places are filled 

 with two larger ones ; at four years, two more fall out, 

 which are supplied by others ; and at five years, all the 

 small teeth are gone, and the full set of large ones ap- 

 pear. After this, the exact age can not be known, but It 

 can be nearly determined by the wear and long appear- 

 ance of the teeth. 



RACKS, MANGERS, FEEDING-TROUGHS. 



Too much attention can not be given to these indis- 

 pensable appendages of the barnyard. If the hay is suf- 

 fered to be placed on the ground, the ripe seeds and 

 small particles will not be saved, and when the yard is 

 wet, or the ground covered with snow, much of the hay 

 will be trodden under foot and lost. Racks are usually 

 preferred to mangers, but when these are used, troughs 



