i2 The Financial Aspect of Sheep-washing, |april, 



against washing sheep are: — (i) The cost. (2) Damage 

 done to nursing ewes, fat sheep, and sheep in very low con- 

 dition in the way of contracting chills, which may result 

 fatally ; and occasional cases of drowning. (3) When prices 

 are low the difference between washed and unwashed wool 

 is not considered sufficient to pay for the trouble and risk 

 involved. (4) Common wash pools are undesirable because 

 of the liability of sheep being exposed to infection by such 

 diseases as scab and foot- rot. 



Financial Aspect of Washing. — (1) The Actual Cost. — 

 This works out in average cases to a very small figure per 

 head, and probably rarely exceeds Jd. per sheep. The esti- 

 mates of two practical farmers, one from Kent and one from 

 Leicestershire, are given below. They have both placed 

 the number of sheep washed per day low, so as not to under- 

 estimate the cost. The Kent example shows 400 sheep 

 washed per day by three men: — Shepherd at 3s.; two 

 labourers at 2s. gd. = $s. 6d.; total, 85. 6d. 



There is also a charge of id. per score for the use of the 

 tun (the circular bricked bath found on several farms in most 

 parishes in the district); but this charge would not apply 

 where the flockmaster had his own tun ; however, perhaps 

 a small sum should be charged in such a case for interest 

 and repairs. One penny per score = is. Sd. on the 

 400 sheep. This added to 8s. 6d. gives 10s. 2d. as the total 

 cost of washing 400 sheep, which works out to 0*30^. (i.e. 

 approximately JcZ.) per head. 



The Midland example takes 550 sheep washed as a day's 

 work, and it must be remembered that here the bath is 

 generally larger — formed by damming up a stream, or using 

 part of a pond — hence more sheep can be "in soak " at one 

 time, and they consequently require less time in the 

 shepherd's hands ; but these 550 sheep require four attendants 

 instead of three, as in the previous case. Shepherd, at 35. ; 

 two labourers at 2s. gd. = $s. 6d.; one youth at 2s.; total, 

 105. 6d. Threepence per score for use of wash-place, if not 

 on the farm, is sometimes charged when there is a common 

 wash for one or more parishes. This, on 550 sheep = 

 6s. iojd. — making a total of 175. ^d., which works out to 

 0*37^. pence, or just over Jd. penny per head. 



