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beast. Few directions are necessary at this day, and in the West. The 
sheep should be handled carefully, and the shearer should not be per¬ 
mitted to cut the sheep, rather than the wool. No good shearer will 
haggle up the sheep, and a poor one is a nuisance. The rolling and 
tying up of the fleece in any particular manner, is more a matter of 
taste and convenience than importance, so that it is tied up with the 
flesh side out, and sufficiently compact to keep together till in the rack, 
is almost all that is required. 
But shearing-time, to the careful flock-master, who has set his mind 
upon the improvement of his flock, and is anxious to have a pure and 
valuable breed of sheep, is one of anxiety and care, and the most im¬ 
portant of all the year. It is now, by the examination of the matured 
fleece, that he is to ascertain whether he has been successful in his 
attempts at improvement. Now is the time to carefully select and to 
thoroughly examine, so that if he have been successful he may follow 
up his success, and if at fault, he may detect the fault, and apply the 
remedy. Each ewe is carefully examined, both while in the hands of 
the shearer and when the fleece is off, and a mark put upon her to denote 
the quality and quantity. A register is kept, and all the defects, as well 
as the good qualities, registered ; for it is from this point that he takes 
his departure for another year. As with the ewes, so with the rams. 
It is only by this care and attention that a flock can be improved or 
kept up. I am free to confess that there is no part of the year to me so 
mentally laborious as that of shearing-time. After shearing, sheep 
should have, if possible, the advantage of shelter, or shade, for a few 
days, and if cold rains set in, they should be sheltered. 
DISEASES. 
When sheep are well kept and cared for they are liable to few or no diseases. 
Two only require any notice—the scab and foot rot. The scab is to the sheep 
what itch is to humans, and may be cured in the same manner. It may be 
known by the sheep rubbing and biting its wool. The remedy is simple, and 
if thoroughly applied, entirely effective. Make a strong decoction of tobacco 
juice, open the wool, and with a stiff shoe brush apply the juice and rub it over 
all the affected parts, which may be easily detected by the appearance of the 
skin, with the brush. If well done, the first application will cure; but if not, 
the second will. After shearing, dip all your sheep in tobacco juice, and the 
