The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1858-06-11
AGRIC I'll TURAL
From Emcry's Journal Il Agriculture,
shgep Washing ana SheaIing.

10y ooiiit ldiiiitIHj tAiS iulpOl IdnU
work is performed to thoroughlessly.
There is too little regard for the sea-
son--for the condition Of the fleece.
If you wash your sheep, do it care
fully and rapidly. We have seen
men wash sheep who seemed more
british than the brutes 1t is less
exhausting to the washer to treat
the animal carefully, and less dan
ger to the sheep is incurred. 1t is
regarded by some as sport to wash
sheep, but whether pastime or not,
nothing should be done to brighten
the sheep. A good husbandman
Will have his flock tame, and use all
possible precautions so keep it so.
Good farmers divide and sub-divide
their pastures for their sheep. They
should go away from the washing to
a fresh clean pasture. The weather
will effect the length of time they
shall remain long enough to allow
the fleece to become dry, and the
new yolk to penetrate through it
This is important, as it adds to the
weight and appearance of the wool.
Most farmers shear from the 10Th
TO the last of May. This depends
upon the season of course, and in
very many instances that have come
under our notice, from the 9th to
the 10th of June would be better
for the sheep and the fleece.
We may as well say here, that
had we 40 or 1000 sheep, they sho'd
never be taken to the water If
sheep are well cared for in winter
and are frequently changed from
one pasture to another, and the dirty
portions of the fleece about the
hind parts carefully clipped and eX-
cluded from the fleece, the wool
neatly taken off and as neatly tied
up, there are few wool buyers who
would demand a heavy tare. There
might and should be established by
mutual consent, rates Of tare, with
reference to the abandonment OF
this unnatural and inhuman praC-
tice- 1t is an injury to the sheep
and no benefit to the wool for manu-
featuring purposes; it scarcely les
sens the cost Of preparing it for use
by the manufacturer, and is only a
heavy and unnecessary tax upon
the wool grower and his flooks. We
never have seen single good or
valid argument in its favor. We
have the best evidence that it is an
injury.
There are some sheep shearerS-
reputed such-who never ought to
handle sheep, at least never ought
To apply the shears to one. Wit
ness the numerous blotchcs made in
TIE skin with their shears. We
bnow an occasional cut is unavoida-
bic, because of the restlessness Of
The animal. But the skillful and
good sheep shoarer seldom cuts a
sheep. 1t is torture, which humanity
alone in the man ought to guard
him against. 1t is a bad practice
among farmers to hire a man to
shea, sheep at certain rate per
head. Better pay more, ami lave
TIE fleece kept clean and OF well
The manner in which it is taken oil
will affect the next crop or fleece,
Neither the fleece OF the skin sho'd
be " haggled up" The fleece SHOT
be taken off closely and evenly
There should be great care taken il
tying it up. 1t should be rolled
compoctIy with the outside Of the
fleece inside, and plenty of good
strong Irvine should be used in the
t. ing. Every wool grower knows
the value Of Irvine, and the profit Ct
using it in tying the he ce. After
ehcaring, turn your hocks where
they may obtain shelter from the
cold rains, if possible.
A IoRTicULrURIsT in Lafayette,
Ind, advertised that he would sup.