WASHING AND SHEARING SHEEP 29I 



The different methods of washing — Three methods of 

 washing sheep have been adopted. By the first they are 

 washed in a tank; by the second in a brook, pond or 

 lake ; and by the third beneath an artificial waterfall. All 

 of these, save the first, are being practiced to a less ex- 

 tent as the years go by, and for the reason that sheep 

 are now being washed to a much less extent before shear- 

 ing than formerly. Where sheep were kept in large bands 

 the plan was sometimes adopted of swimming them back 

 and forth several times across a running stream. This 

 method, accomplished by the shepherd through the aid 

 of dogs, was, of course, an imperfect method of washing, 

 but it was only practiced on sheep that grazed on pastures 

 on which the wool was not much liable to be soiled in a 

 marked degree. 



Sheep are now more commonly washed in a tank or 

 box than by any other method, as when they are washed 

 it is rather to prepare them for being shown at fairs than 

 to cleanse the wool previous to the shearing. A home- 

 made box made watertight will serve the purpose, but a 

 galvanized tank such as may now be readily obtained 

 from various manufacturers of the same is probably not 

 more costly and it will last much longer. The same tank 

 may be used for dipping, for ticks or scab, where the iiock 

 is small. When sheep are thus washed, the water should 

 be brought to a tepid condition should the season of the 

 year call for warming it thus. Some kind of pure soap 

 added to the water will greatly aid in removing foreign 

 matters from the wool. It will also dissolve and remove 

 yolk scales that may have accumulated. Subsequent 

 to the washing, the wool should be treated with clean 

 water so as to remove the soap, as, unremoved, it would 

 injure its appearance. Two persons will handle the 

 sheep that are thus being washed much more readily than 

 one, especially when they are large. They should be clad 

 in waterproof clothing. The water in the box or tank 

 should be renewed occasionally, as it soon becomes so 



