554 Transaciions of the American Institute. 



his thumb along the blade, which affords him better command of the 

 points. He may then commence cutting the wool at the brisket, and, 

 proceeding downward, all upon the sides of the belly to the extremity 

 of the ribs, the sides of both thighs to the edges of the flanks ; then 

 back to the brisket, and thence upward, shearing the wool from the 

 breast, front, and both sides of the neck — but not yet the back of it — 

 and also the poll or fore part and top of the head. Now the jacket is 

 opened of the sheep, and its position, as well as that of the shearer, 

 changed by being turned flat upon its side, one knee of the shearer 

 resting on the cushion and the other gently pressing the fore- 

 quarter of the animal to prevent any struggling. He then resumes 

 cutting upon the flank a^id rump, and thence onward to the head. 

 Thus one side is completed. The sheep is then turned on the other 

 side, in doing which great care is requisite to prevent the fleece being 

 torn, and the shearer acts as upon the other, which finishes. He must 

 then take his sheep near to the door through which it is to pass out, 

 and neatly trim the legs, and leave not a solitary lock anywhere as a 

 harbor for ticks. It is absolutely necessary for him to remove from 

 his stand to trim ; otherwise the useless stuff from the legs becomes 

 intermingled with the fleece wool. In the use of the shears, let the 

 blades be laid as flat to the skin as possible, not lower the points too 

 much, nor cut more than one or two inches at a clip, frequently not 

 so much, depending on the part and compactness of the wool. The 

 above instructions being designed for a beginner, we will suppose this 

 to be his first and only attempt. Let his employer, when he is about 

 it — and it will be a good while — have an eye on all his movements, 

 kindly and carefully directing them. After the pupil is through his 

 maiden effort, you will see him smoothing out the crinkles and aches 

 from his back and hips, for thus the poor fellow will feel ; and if the 

 weather is warm — and of course it should be — wiping the dripping 

 sweat from his brow. But be easy; let him blow awhile before he 

 catches another sheep ; for if you hurry him, long before night you 

 will hear murmurs from his lips that " shearing is a back-breaking 

 business — not what it is cracked up to be," etc., etc., indicating that 

 he is already disgusted with it ; and if so, adieu to his ever arriving 

 at skillfulness. But if he has time afforded to straighten himself, and 

 is patted with kind compliments upon " his unexpected well-doing — 

 that he jmnroves with each successive sheep — and that he will be sure 

 to make a first-rate shearer," you will bring him under the yoke with- 

 out rebelling against its hardships. He will probably shear eight or 

 ten the first day, and possibly a few more the next ; at all events, 



