Farm Sheep 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 
are 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 
