Preparation of Sheep for Show 277 



proportions, these ingredients form a soft paste which 

 is easily applied to the fleece. It is advisable for a 

 beginner to make his first trial of these methods on 

 a sheep that is not intended for show. The prac- 

 tice of trimming and coloring, when carried to excess, 

 should be condemned. It may be said that it is 

 legitimate to improve the fleece as far as it is possi- 

 ble to do so without altering the natural form of the 

 sheep, but by means of oiling and coloring serious 

 defects in the fleece are changed into excellencies, 

 and gross deception originates. It is hoped by the 

 writer that this explanation of these practices will 

 speedily assist their curtailment. 



After-treatment of show sheep. — When breeding 

 sheep return from the shows, their after-treatment 

 is a matter of much consideration. The aim should 

 be to reduce them in flesh by means of easy exercise 

 and not by any marked reduction of their rations. 

 A few hours' exercise each day will soon strengthen 

 them so that they will be able to remain out con- 

 tinually. In some cases in which the fattening has 

 been carried to extremes, it may be necessary when 

 the sheep return to give them a mild purge. As a 

 rule, exercise with a limited reduction of the grain 

 ration will be sufficient to bring them back to normal 

 condition. In reducing the fleshiness of the sheep, it 

 is necessary to watch their progress closely; for it 

 becomes a very hard matter to restore them if they 

 are permitted to become too low in condition. 



