WASHING, SHEARING AND MARKING. 165 



the advent of warm weather, whereas the flock 

 should he shorn much before that time, unless 

 it be a hill flock running without shelter. 



The writer, living on the fortieth parallel, 

 usually shears his ewe flock the first week in 

 April and sometimes the last week in March. 



There are several advantages of this early 

 shearing. About this time ewes that have 

 been well fed often experience a little loosen- 

 ing of the wool, as though it were time to shed 

 it off, and locks will be lost, particularly about 

 the neck. 



Then the advent of warm days causes a feel- 

 ing of languor and the sheep do not eat and 

 thrive as has been their wont. And again, 

 there are many, showers in April and the flock 

 with fleeces on literally "has not sense enough 

 to come in out of the rain" and the fleeces 

 become drenched and heavy. Then they keep 

 their lambs out in the rain, whereas if they 

 were shorn they would flee to their sheds as 

 soon as the first drops struck them. 



Any one who has once tried this early shear- 

 ing will continue it. Should the flock be poorly 

 fed, however, and unsheltered, the fleeces 

 should be left on until the middle of May. 



The amount of wool taken off in a period 

 of years will probably be nearly the same 

 whether shorn in April, May or June, with the 

 ]>robability that the early-shorn sheep through 

 their greater vigor and healthfulness may 

 shear the most. 



For washing sheep a considerable body of 

 water, is required. It is usual to take advan- 



