174 MANAGEMENT OF SHEEP. 



but it is exported " in the dirt," which will explain it. The 

 above statement proves conclusively the indifferent manner 

 with which wools grown in the United States are washed by 

 the growers, and calls loudly for a reform. 



CASTRATION AND DOCKING. * 



This is an important and necessary operation to lambs, 

 but in very many instances is cruelly and unskilfully per- 

 formed. 



The proper time depends much on the weather, the size of 

 the lamb, and varying from five to twenty days from its birth. 



As the ewes about washing time are, or should be, ^IkMT ^ 

 parturition, two or three days jaS'^. li ii.if ■! 1 1 >" '"b* i^ . 

 ed for this purpose, altl^' iu^ii^t tIt?^' . " 



ferred to the period of sheax..,. ^^f' f^^^ ^f jj^ J^'^ ^Z 



this, provided it is done very earlj ihio Sv i K 



. 5 . . • •' •' •^. si*, and a temporary 



moist temperature is very unpropitioui-jT' ., n 



J A» J- -i rni,- • e —j'Jltes-' another. One 



danger attending it. rhis arises fro'?PK^>-.. 1] rl 



fusion of blood in individual instances, whk ■ '• fil^, . ^ 



suits in the death of the lamb. ., TS^^:-.^^ . 



Let the lambs be broitht from ihe field AVuuas iuue 

 bustle and hurry as possiLIo, and* immediately confined in a 

 small pound, to prevent any exercise or running about when 

 catching them. This, and the observance of the following 

 rules, have been the practice of the writer many years : — 



One catches a lamb and seats himself astride of a narrow 

 plank or scantling, which is placed at an inclination of about 

 30 degrees, pressing the back of the lamb firmly against his 

 belly, and with his hands grasps the hind legs, drawing them 

 upwards and towards him, so that the scrotum is fairly ex- 

 posed for the operation. The opejrator with a sharp knife 

 cuts off about one half to two thirds of the testicle bag ; then, 

 drops his knife, and draws out one of the testicles at a time 

 till a portion of the connecting coi;^ is seen, which he divides 

 by friction of his thumb nail. This mode of division la- 

 cerates the cord, and less bleeding will follow than if done 

 by a sharp instrument. It may, to some, appear unnecessary, 

 and therefore objectionable, to cut off so much of the scrotum 

 or bag ; but if dislodged of its contents it is certainly quite 

 an useless affair, the little wool growing upon it being almost 

 worthless, and a bother always to the tagger and shearer when 

 tutting it off. No danger can arise either, if the ointment 

 which will presently be spoken of, is used. 



