Summer Management of the Flock 213 



There is not much relation between time of shear- 

 ing and quality of wool except as the sheep may be 

 in a poorer or better condition at a later time. 

 Breeding ewes are likely to yield sounder and evener 

 fleeces before lambing time. After the usual lamb- 

 ing time, however, the fleece will be of greater length 

 and weight, and the oil more abundant in warmer 

 weather. Abundant oil or yolk gives added weight 

 to a fleece, but no greater actual value. In farming 

 sections, small lots of wool are generally bought at a 

 flat rate, and the actual value on a scoured basis not 

 computed by the buyer, as is done when large lots 

 are appraised. 



Sheep shorn both in the spring and fall produce 

 a greater weight of wool than if shorn but once, but 

 the shorter staple has a lower value and there is no 

 real gain. When the summer wool gathers more 

 dirt and foreign matter than does the winter growth, 

 fall shearing gives a short but cleaner and more 

 valuable spring clip, which is not deterioriated by 

 having in it the foreign matter of the fall clip. This 

 applies in sections of dry summers and mild winter 

 seasons. 



Manner of shearing. — The things to be aimed at in 

 removing the fleece are quiet and quick work, to 

 avoid injury to the sheep, and keeping the fleece in 

 an attractive form. Careless shearers allow the 

 fleece to be torn apart by the struggling of the sheep, 

 and what are called second cuts greatly impair the 



