216 Sheep-Farming 



once in use for rolling and tying fleeces in a very 

 attractive form. The market now prefers a fleece 

 tied more loosely (Fig. 48, PI. XX). A neat job may 

 be made by spreading the fleece on' the floor, flesh 

 side down, then folding the sides in and rolling from 

 neck to other end and tying firmly with hard, smooth 

 twine wrapped around once each way and tied se- 

 curely. Sisal or any other twine from which fibers 

 get into the wool is very objectionable. These vege- 

 table fibers cannot be separated from the wool, 

 and being of a different nature do not absorb dyes, 

 and this makes it impossible to use wool tied with 

 such twine except for cheap fabrics in which the 

 uncolored fibers are not so seriously objectionable. 

 The harder twines are likely to come untied and allow 

 the fleece to fall apart. There are twines made of 

 paper especially for tying wool; "India" three-ply, 

 size No. 4^, is well adapted for the purpose. 



Wool can be stored with very small probability of 

 deterioration or loss of weight. Any place that is 

 clean and dry is suitable for storing, and even if 

 stored for but a short time, it is best to pack the 

 fleeces in the regular sacks made for the purpose. 



Dipping. — Ordinarily, sheep require dipping at 

 least once a year, and twice is often necessary. For 

 scab or other diseases more frequent, special dipping 

 may be needed, as discussed in Chapter XV. It is 

 seldom safe to forego dipping the entire flock shortly 

 after shearing. At this time, most of the ticks are 



