Farm Slieep 191 



returns on the fleece, but what is gained here is lost on 

 the body of the sheep due to excessive heat. There is 

 much more variation in the time of shearing farm sheep 

 than range sheep, since the farmer has better protection 

 for his flock in case they are sheared too early or too late. 

 Machine shearing is gradually taking the place of hand 

 shearing, especially in the larger flocks. The amateur 

 can learn to shear so much faster and easier with a machine 

 that the farmer can easily sheer his own flock. Sheep 

 are not damaged with the machine to the extent that they 

 are with the blades. On the farm, hand machines are 

 more commonly used than the power driven ones, and 

 are satisfactory for flocks of twenty-five or fifty head. 

 Hand machines, however, are not fast enough or durable 

 enough for shearing large bands. While being shorn, the 

 sheep must be handled as humanely as possible, as there 

 ajre enough cuts at best. It is a good plan to place the 

 fleece in a bin to cool before packing, as the manufacturers 

 claim that it comes out of the sack in better condition. 

 This is one of the good features of the Australian shearing 

 sheds. Unscrupulous farmers often wet the wool, or 

 place sand, stones, and the like in the wool sacks to increase 

 the weight. It would seem as if selling sand, water, and 

 stones at twenty-five to thirty cents a pound would be a 

 profitable business, but the effect of this practice always 

 comes back to the offender and the community, and 

 buyers discriminate against farmers whom they suspect 

 of such acts. In case wool is held for some time before 

 selling, it should be stored in a cool place where the sun 

 and wind cannot strike it. Wool normally contains about 

 13 per cent moisture which is legitimate and the farmer 

 should do all in his power not to lose it. A more complete 

 discussion of growing and handling the wool clip is taken 



