1800.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
171 
large, take them by the fore legs, in passing them 
into the water. 
The washer should take the necu of the sheep 
upon the inside of the elbow, keeping the nose 
out of Lhe water while he presses the wool vig¬ 
orously with both hands. The washing is to be 
continued until the water flows away clear from 
all parts of the fleece. When clean, they should 
be carefully conducted to a place of easy ascent, 
and the owner of the flock should receive them 
at the edge of the stream, and see if the washing 
has been thoroughly done. They should be made 
to stand still after they get out, until the most of 
the water drains from the fleece. Care should 
be taken not to drive them along dusty roads. 
To avoid this, it is a great advantage if the 
washing can be done at some stream on the farm, 
or near the sheep pasture. If this can not be 
done, a day after a rain should be selected, when 
the dust is laid. After washing, they should be 
kept in the freshest pasture, free from dirt and 
briers, until shearing. 
Though there is not much danger of taking 
cold in standing in the water at this business, for 
two or three hours at this season, still some pre¬ 
fer to keep the person dry. This may be done 
by sinking a hogshead with one head out, in the 
stream where the washing is to be done. The 
vessel is confined in its place by heavy stones 
upon the inside, and the sheep is brought along 
the outside, while the washer stands within, and 
wets only his hands and arms. 
Others accomplish the same thing, by making 
a dam, and running a flume out from the top ten 
or twelve feet long, and about two feet square. 
The top of the flume should be just high enough 
for the convenience of the washer. The sheep, 
in this method, are best managed by two individ¬ 
uals, one standing upon each side of the flume. 
With a good head of water, the cleansing may be 
very rapidly and thoroughly done in this way. In 
a week or two after the washing, depending some¬ 
what upon the weather, the yolk, which is a kind 
of natural soap, will again be diffused through the 
wool, and give it that desirable softness which 
indicates the proper time of 
SHEARING. 
The clipping of the wool, though a simple pro¬ 
cess, is an art in which one can attain skill only 
by practice. In most neighborhoods where sheep 
' are kept, there are persons who make a business 
of shearing while the season lasts, and it is gen¬ 
erally good economy to secure them at advanced 
wages. Green hands are apt to cut the wool un¬ 
even, and to hack the skin of the animal badly. 
It is desirable that fair weather should be select¬ 
ed for this work, as the sheep ought to be dry 
and clean ; a condition quite impossible in rains. 
Scrupulous attention to cleanliness will materi¬ 
ally affect the market price of the wool. If the 
barn floor be selected for the shearing, as is usual, 
start the dirt out of the cracks in the floor, with 
a few blows of the flail, and sweep out clean. 
Sweep up after every fleece is taken off. 
After the sheep are yarded, put a few at a time 
into a clean pen or stable, adjoining the barn floor 
or place of shearing. If several shearers are em¬ 
ployed, a man should be on hand to catch the sheep 
for them, to cut off long toes and troublesome 
horns, and to mark them when they are shorn. 
In shearing, begin with the head and neck, then 
the legs and belly, leaving the sides and back to 
the last. The main thing is to shear evenly, 
closeness being a minor consideration ; as what 
is left, adds so much to the length of the next 
fleece. Great care should also be taken to avoid 
clipping the wool a second time, and the cutting 
of the skin. Shearing brings to light the man¬ 
agement of the sheep for the past Winter. If this 
has been good, the undressed animals will look 
sleek and round without the fleece. If otherwise, 
the projecting ribs and hip bones will stare the 
husbandman in the face. The appearance of 
some of these neglected flocks when shorn, es¬ 
pecially if they have had unskillful shearing, is 
a most ghastly spectacle. The work of starva¬ 
tion begun by the farmer, is not unfrequently fin¬ 
ished by the crows. 
The folding of the fleece is a matter of consid¬ 
erable importance to seller and purchaser. It 
should be kept as unbroken as possible while 
shearing, and if the matter have not been pre¬ 
viously attended to, all dirty and clotted bits of 
wool should be removed. Provide a table of the 
length of the longest fleeces, and three or four 
feet wide. A door put upon two barrels will an¬ 
swer, if the door is smooth. Spread the fleece 
upon the platform, sheared side downward, and 
crowd the wool together as closely as possible. 
Put all the scattering locks of clean wool at the 
ends, then fold over the sides so that the pack¬ 
age when done up, will be from one to two feet 
long, according to the size of the fleece. Then 
fold over the fleece so as to make a package as 
nearly square as possible, leaving the wool upon 
the back, on the outside, The objection to 
rolling is, that it opens the staple too much. Tie 
with a stout linen twine passed arbund the bun¬ 
dles once or twice in opposite directions. The 
wool, if it be not sent immediately to market, 
should be stored in some tight building or loft, 
where it can be kept free from dust and moths. 
It loses nothing in weight by keeping a few 
months. The yolk will preserve it from insects. 
Though wool can be kept over, if prices do not 
suit, it is generally the best course to sell as soon 
as prices are settled. The loss of interest upon 
the money is considerable, and the prospect of 
higher prices the second season, can never be 
made certain. Though some farmers shear with¬ 
out washing, it is a filthy practice, and too expen¬ 
sive for good flock masters to indulge in. The 
purchaser will insist upon making his own esti¬ 
mate for the deduction on account of dirt. Clean 
wool will bring the most clean money, and the 
farmer should seek to establish his reputation 
for a good article put up in the best condition. 
Eschew all tricks, and let the inside correspond 
with the outside of the fleece. 
--— <-—«b—-- «--- 
What Shall he Done with the Dogs • II. 
MASSACHUSETTS DOG LAWS. 
It is a cheering fact that the Legislatures of 
several different States have answered this ques¬ 
tion satisfactorily during their recent sessions. 
It is a matter of general congratulation that effi¬ 
cient means were adopted by the Massachusetts 
authorities to limit the ravages of the cattle dis¬ 
ease as noticed in another article, hut the dog 
nuisance is almost as crying an evil as ‘•pleuro¬ 
pneumonia,” would have become. Since our re¬ 
cent agitation of the subject we have been re¬ 
ceiving statistics and isolated facts enough to 
convert the greatest friend of the canine race to 
an uncompromising enemy. Again we say legis¬ 
late the dogs out of the Avay of sheep raising. 
We are indebted to Chas. L. Flint, Esq., Sec. 
of the Massachusetts Board of Agriculture, for a 
copy of the Dog Laws of that State now in force. 
Protection of Sheep, hambs, and other Domestic Animals , 
against Dogs. 
Sec 52. Every owner or keeper of a dog shall annu¬ 
ally on or before the thirtieth day of April, cause it to be 
registered, numbered, described and licensed for one 
year from the first day of the ensuing May, in the office of 
the clerk of the city or town wherein he resides ; and 
shall cause it to wear round its neck a collar distinctly 
marked with its owner’s name and registered number, 
and shall pay for such license one dollar for a male dog, 
and five dollars for a female dog. 
Sec. 53. The clerk shall issue the license, and roceiv# 
and pay the money therefor into the city or town treasury, 
retaining to his own use ten cents for each license. The 
treasurer shall keep tin accurate and separate account of 
all sums received and paid out under the provisions o. 
this chapter relating to dog«, which account shall at all 
times be open to the inspection of any voter of the place. 
Sec. 54. The clerk shall annually, within one week 
after the first day of May. post in some conspicuous pub¬ 
lic place a list of till dogs licensed for the current year; 
and shall furnish a copy thereof to the chief of police of 
the city, or one of the constables of the town; and shill 
also, from time to time, furnish said officers with a list, of 
such dogs as are subsequently licensed during the year. 
Sec. 55. Any owner of a dog may at any time have it 
licensed until the first day of the ensuing May. upon pay¬ 
ing the sum as provided in section fifty-two ; blit, such li¬ 
cense shall not exempt him from the penalty of the fol¬ 
lowing section, on complaint made prior to issuing the 
license. No new license for the current year shall he 
necessary upon the removal of a licensed dog into anoth¬ 
er city or tow n, unless required by some by-law passed 
under section sixty-seven. 
Sec. 56. Whoever keeps a dog contrary to the provis¬ 
ions of this chapter, shall forfeit ten dollars, to be rec'over- 
ed by complaint, to the use of the place w herein the dog 
is kept. 
Sec. 57 Whcever wrongfully removes the collar from 1 
or steals a dog, licensed and collared as aforesaid, shall 
be punished by fine not exceeding fifty dollars ; and who¬ 
ever wrongfully kills, maims, entices, or carries away 
such a dog, shall be liable to its owner for its value in ail. 
action of tort. Whoever distributes or exposes any poi¬ 
sonous substance, with intent that the samishall be eat¬ 
en by any dog, shall be punished by fine not exceeding 
fifty nor less than ten dollars. 
Sec. 58. Any person may, and every police officer and 
constable shall, kill or cause to be destroyed all dogs go¬ 
ing at large and not licensed and collared according to 
the provisions of this chapter; and such offi-ers, when 
not otherw ise paid for their services, shall receive from 
the city or town treasury fifty cents for each dog so de¬ 
stroyed by them. 
Sec. 5«. Every owner or keeper of a dog shall forfeit 
to any person injured by it, double theamountof the dam¬ 
age sustained by him, to be recovered in an action of tort. 
Sec. 60. Any person may kill a dog that shall sudden¬ 
ly assault him while he is peaceably walking or riding 
without the enclosure of its owner or keeper; and any 
person may kill a dog that is found out of the enclosure or 
immediate care of its owner or keeper, worrying, wound¬ 
ing, or killing any neat cattle, sheep or lambs. 
Sec. 61. If any person so assaulted, or finding a dog 
strolling out of the enclosure or immediate care of its 
owner or keeper, shall, within forty-eight hours after 
such assault or finding, make oath thereof before a jus¬ 
tice of the peace or police court for the county, or before 
the clerk of the city or town w hero the owner of the dog 
dwells, and shall further swear that he suspects the dog 
to be dangerous or mischievous, and shall give notice 
thereof to its owner or keeper by delivering him a cer¬ 
tificate of such oath signed by such justice or clerk, the 
owneror keeper shall forthwith lull or confine it; and if he 
neglects so to do for twenty-four hours after such notice, 
he shall forfeit ten dollars. 
Sec. 62. If, after such notice, the dog is not killed or 
confined, but is again found strolling out of the enclosure 
or immediate care of its owner or keeper, any person 
may kill it. 
Sec. 63. If a dog, after such notice to its owner or 
keeper, shall by such assault wound or cause to be 
wounded any person, or shall worry,-wound, or kill any 
neat cattle, sheep or lambs, or do any other mischief, the 
owner or keeper shall be liable to pay to the person in¬ 
jured thereby treble damage, to be recovered in an action 
of tort. 
Sec. 64. Whoever suffers loss by reason of the worry, 
ing, maiming, or killing of his sheep, lamb«, or other do¬ 
mestic animals, by dogs, may, within thirty days after he 
know s of such loss, present proof thereof to the mayor or 
selectmen of the city or town w herein the damage is done ; 
and thereupon said officers shall draw an order in favor 
of the owner upon the treasurer of said city or town for 
the amount of such loss. The treasurer shall register 
such orders at the time of their presentation, and annual¬ 
ly on the first day of January pay them in full, if the gross 
amount received by his city or town, under the provisions 
of this chapter relating to dogs, and not previously paid, 
out, is sufficient therefor; otherwise he shall divide such 
amount pro rata among such orders, in full discharge 
thereof. After such order has been drawn, the city or 
town may, in an action of tort, recover against the keeper 
or owner of any dog concerned in doing the damage the 
full amount thereof. 
Sec. 65. The ow ner of sheep, lambs, or other domes 
tic animals, worried, maimed, or killed by dog-, shall have 
his election whether to proceed under the provisions of 
the preceding section or of sections sixty-one, sixty-two, 
and sixty-three ; but having signified such election, by 
commencing a suit or obtaining an order, he shall not 
have the other remedy. 
Sec. 66. The mayor and aldermen of each city, and the 
selectmen of each town, shall require ali dogs not licensed 
and collared according to the foregoing provisions, to bo 
destroyed, and shall enforce all penalties herein provided. 
Any officer refusing or neglecting to perform the duties 
herein imposed upon him, shall be punished by fine not 
exceeding twenty-five dollars, to be paid into the cily or 
town treasury. 
Sec. 67 The city Council of any city, and the inhabi¬ 
tants of any town, may make such additional by-laws and 
regulations concerning the licensing and restraining of 
dogs, as they deem expedient, and may affix any penalties, 
not exceeding ten dollars, fir any breach thereof; but 
such by-laws and regulations shall relate only to dogs 
owned or kept in such city or town ; and the annual fee 
required for a license shall in no case be more than one 
dollar in addition to the sum required by section fifty-two. 
Sec. 68. All fines and penalties provided in the six¬ 
teen preceding sections may be recovered on complaint 
before any police court or trial justice in the county 
where the offence is committed. 
