250 Animal Husbandry 
of the mixture to a sheep, whereas if the sheep is not shorn, it 
will take approximately one gallon. The second dipping should 
be in the fall, some fair day just before the sheep are placed in 
their winter quarters. This second dipping will pay because of its 
invigorating influence, even though the sheep are free from ticks. 
SHEARING SHEEP 
Formerly it was the custom to wash the sheep before shearing, 
and shear later in the season than at present. This was in the 
days of the spinning wheel and hand loom. The practice of wash- 
ing the wool was continued somewhat later, for it was thought 
that it prepared the wool for the manufacture. This it did not do, 
but it did render the wool lighter by removing the natural oil, and 
hence was a distinct disadvantage to the farmer. 
404. When to shear. — The time for shearing will depend some- 
what on the conditions. If winter lambs are sought, the shearing 
should be done in March or before, whereas, if there is no hurry 
about the lambs, and the sheep are not well protected, the wool 
may be left on until warm weather. With the coming of warm 
weather, the wool must be removed or the sheep will not thrive. 
When at all practicable, early shearing is to be recommended, as 
the sheep will do much better. The amount of wool taken off 
will be greater if the sheep are shorn regularly in March or April 
than if they are shorn in June. 
405. Hand shearing. — Hand shearing requires much skill and 
considerable practice. A good man will shear from 40 to 100 sheep 
in a day, using common hand shears. While each shearer has his 
own method, it is some modification of the following: the sheep is 
placed on its rump, with its back to the shearer, supported by the 
left arm, with the shears in the right hand. The wool is then re- 
moved from the brisket and neck down to the shoulders. The 
fleece is then opened down the abdomen and first clipped on the 
left side as far around as the back bone, and then on the right side 
