Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-06-17
SHEEP.

Washmg.-TheN He for clipping varies
much, being earlier ii. seasons which have
been preceded by favor able weather and an
unstintcd allowance offood, than IN such as
have followed rigadpus winter, disease, or
any other cause calculated to arrest the
growth gro of wool. .The Season may be said
to be limited by thdAn4ddlc of May and the
middle of July; but his should not be taken
as a rule of conduct, the best guide being
the state of the new coat, which ought al
ways to be well abova( he skin before shear
ing is attempted. The>wool, unless among
some mountain focks, is lways, in this coun-
try, washed prior to its removal from the
Sleeps back bun in Spain that operation is
always deferred till III hceces have been
collected, when they arNubjcctod to thor
ough securing, in public buildings appropli-
a'ed to the purposehan termed lacatories.
This is a plan in many respects superior to
ours. lis adoption by our farmers has been
recommended by prPerry. There cannot
be doubt of its b,ISSg the preferable mode
as regards the saving would effect in the
lives of the sheep; bill as it is well known
that shearing is mieL Hacilitated by washing,
and that on the neathess with which the clip
ping is accomplished, the quality of the sue
ceeding crop in a great pleasure depends,
some little time will be$hecessary to deter
mine the comparative Value of either mode.
In New South Wales, it is customary to
make the sheep Swink across stream for
two or three mornihsf beiore being washed
by which means the" S.olk is soflened, and
the removal of grease and dirt much promo
ted; but this, though i good plan in that
mild and even clima,4f could not be looked
upon as safe in tent Msature so variable as
that Of Britain. In cases, however, where
great nicely is required ,jfc plan in vogue
in the former counlry;>lHat of dipping each
sheep, before westinghouse cauldron. of
warm water, might be benefcialy adopted.
Mountain sheep are CLEANED by being
forced TO swim across \ pool, but the finer or
lowand breeds, are WA aed entirely by the
hand. TIE latter meho1. alone demands a
short explanation. Dry, and if possible,
sunny weather, is select(A for the operation,
on the morning which the lambs are sepa-
rated from the flock, AND the latter is con-
veyed to the margingf Fme pebbly-bottom-
ed pool. Here theyjle penned or other
wise kept together, wMS!ey are seized, one
by one, by man standing mid-thigh deep
near the water edge, a& turned back down.
wards, the head alone being above the sur
face. 1t is then TUNED from side to side,
and moved backwards and forwards, so as to
make the wool catch upon the stream and
wave about. When the first washer has
heldit fora few minutes, and partially cleans
ed the fleece, lie passes it up the river to the
next, who goes through the same routine, and
on being convinced that the skin is free from
filth, compels the sheep to land by swimming
in an oolique direction up the water. Three
and even four men are sometimes employed
in washing sheep, but two, as here described,
will, under ordinary circumstances, be found
sufficient. The bank on which the dripping
sheep are collected, should have a clean and
firm turf, and the flock should, till fairly dry
and fit for shearing, be kept on heavy grass
land, or, what is better, in straw-bedded
folds.
SheNing.--After allowing eight days, of
and on, to elapse from the time of washing,
SO as to permit the wool TO gain fresh sup
ply of yolk, and along with it lusre and elias
ITCHY, the sheep may be stripped Of its fleece.
40 t'NiS 10 Nv Su'iiS W "h u'~
skiliul clipper, every encouragement should
be given to induce servants TO cut close,
smoothly, and evenly, and to avoid injurng
the skin, or going twice over the same part.
There are two ways in this country of de-
priving sheep of their wool. In the first, or
coarser method, which is only adopted in the
case of Cheviot and heath sheep, the opera
tor sits upon the ground, aud placing the ami
NAL on its back between his knees, shears
the wool first from the belly and legs, and
then, after tying the latter, proceeds 10 clear
the back. In the second method, the legs
are never tied, as the disposition of the sheep
is such as to render it unnecessary. The
animal is placed on its buttocks-the shearer
stands with the head between or closely in
front of his legs, and clips first one side, cut
ting from the middle of the belly to that of
the back, down to the lons. 1t is then
placed on its side, the knee of the operator
pressing on tsneck, and the wool is removed