428 MANUAL OF FARM ANIMALS 



until slightly drained to prevent it from falling as a result oi 

 the weight of the water in the fleece. The flock should then 

 be kept in a clean place for at least one week to permit the 

 yolk or oil to be replaced. 



When to shear. — The time for shearing will depend somewhat 

 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. If troubled with ticks, they will 

 leave as soon as the sheep are shorn, though in this case it is well 

 to see that the ticks do not go to the lambs. The amount of 

 wool taken off will be greater if the sheep are shorn regularly in 

 March or April than if shorn in June. Where washing the wool 

 is practiced, the sheep cannot be shorn until warm weather as 

 it is unsafe to wash the animals in the late winter or early 

 spring. 



Hand shearing. — Hand shearing requires much skill and con- 

 siderable practice. A good man will shear from 40 to 100 sheep 

 in a day, using common hand shears. Many experts shear upon 

 the floor, though some prefer a platform. The work should 

 be done in a light, airy place. 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 removed 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 in a similar manner, all the time exercising much care 

 in keeping the fleece together. Care must be exercised not to 

 cut too deep at one stroke or the sheep will not be smooth. The 

 points of the shears must be kept close to the hide, otherwise a 



