CHAPTER IX. 



SUMMER MANAGEMENT CONTINUED 



,wi 



SHBARIi»-I»TERIM BETWEEN WASHING AND SHEARING— SORTING 

 JNG, THE SHEEP— ROLLING THE FLEECES— ARRANGEMENT 



''C TPJ-i- I I.lj^lMTnilirrTr ttit't n 1 1 riTTr wool— sheep 



1 •'^'■B TfrNOXIOD^ WEEDS. 

 clip ^ 



ing too Vast is { 

 ting t3fe skin,- 

 easy to it 



The fqU^ 

 the novice' :- 



#upposing^ 

 cusF 



SHEARING. 



harvest of the shepherd, as the reader has 

 the " olden time" was celebrated at its 

 feastings and other demonstrations of rejoi- 

 |oodly custom has for long been discontin- 

 itty-iM we except the " ancients" of Nantucket, 

 Ftinaciously adhere annually to its observance. 

 y properly termed a harvest, for thus it is to the 

 . humane flock-master ; but the reverse of this is 

 the case with that unprofitable servant, whose slothfulness 

 and negligence may be seen manifested in the emaciated and 

 partly denuded forms of his flock, at this interesting period. 

 The former reaps a bountiful reward, while the other gathers 

 little else than burs and tag-locks ! 



The remarks of censure prefixed to the notices on tagging, 

 washing, and castration, in reference to the heedless and 

 unskilful manner with which these matters are usually at- 

 tended to, by a large majority of wool-growers, will apply 

 with tenfold force to the subject now under consideration. 

 It will be proper to say, without ceremony or fear of contra- 

 diction, that the shearing of sheep, as generally conducted 

 in the United States, is utterly disgraceful. The passing 

 traveller, to be satisfied of the truth pf this assertion, need : 

 not confine his observation to the " poor man's flock" as seen 

 grazing by the roadside, but in the fields of those' who sus- 

 tain the reputation of good farmers in their respective neigh- 

 borhoods, will often behold sheep whose appearance indicate 



