90 Domestio ANIMALS. 
8. Emasculation and Docking.— These should usually pre- 
cede washing, as at that period the oldest lambs will be about 
@ month old, and it is safer to perform the operations when 
they are a couple of weeks younger. Dry, pleasant weather 
should be selected. Castration is a simple and safe process. 
Let a man hold the lamb with its back pressed firmly against 
his breast and stomach, and all four legs gathered in front in 
his hands. Cut off the bottom of the pouch, free the testicle 
from the inclosing membrane, and then draw it steadily out, or 
clip the cord with a knife, if it does not snap off at a proper 
distance from the testicle. Some shepherds draw both testicles 
at once with their teeth. It is common to drop a little salt into 
the pouch. Where the weather is very warm, some touch the 
end of the pouch (and that of the tail, after that is cut off) 
with an ointment, consisting of tar, lard, and turpentine. In 
ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, however, they will do just 
as well, here, without any application. 
“The tail should be cut off, say one and a half inches from the 
body, with a chisel on the head of a block, the skin being slid 
up toward the body with a finger and thumb, so that it will 
afterward cover the end of the stump. ,Severed with a knife, 
the end of the tail being grasped with one of the hands in the 
ordinary way, a naked stump is left which takes some time to 
heal. 
“It may occur to some unused to keeping sheep, that it is 
unnecessary to cut off the tail. If left on, it is apt to collect 
filth, and if the sheep purges, it becomes an intolerable nui- 
sance. 
9. Washing.—‘ This is usually done here about the first of 
June. The climate of the Southern States would admit of its 
being done earlier. The rule should be to wait until the water 
has acquired sufficient warmth for bathing, and until cold rains 
and storms, and cold nights are no longer to be expected. 
10. Shearing.— It is difficult, if not impossible, to give intel- 
ligible practical instructions which would guide an entire nov- 
ice in skillfully shearing a sheep. Practice is requisite, The 
