The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-06-12
NUMBER s.

Ily belongs to the dung hill, so that Der.
thaps it is not, on an average, too large
a deduction. The best flock masters
in many sections, are generally discon.
timing the practice of washing !; and
breeders of very valuable sheep very
rarely, perhaps never, subject them to
the operation. If sheep is worth
800, the risk to his life and health il
too great, and it is safe to say that in
flock of which it will take 20 sheep to
be worth 800, the risk is decidedly
greater, or rather there is almost an
absolute certainty of some essential
damage to the flock by colds contract.
ed, &c. Sheep washing az practioed
by the best farmers is in this wise: A
morning is selected as early in June 40
the weather is warm enough not to
chill the washers or sheep, Immediately
after good rain. The sheep are then
well soaked, and hclf the labor is ac-
|complished. There is no dust on the
roads, and the sheep may return clean
to their pastures, A pen made of
boards or hurdles, inst large enough to
hold the flock and so high and firm
that they cannot possibly escape, is
upon the bank of a brisk stream. A
dam of a few feet in height raises the
water so that it flows in troughs and
falls with force upon the sheep held by
the washer in pool below, where tho
water is just warm enough to swim the
sheep. BY coaxing with salt and gen.
tie driving, the sheep are gathered in
tie pen. All rudeness in driving and
handling is avoided; when once fright
cncd they are very difficult to manage.
Two men 60 into the water to wash, a
third catches the sheep. and fourth
helps them out of the water. Ii they
have not been well tagged before, it
should be done before washing, for the
water will not remove the hard Jumps
of ding. The sheep must not he held
by the wool except about the head, for
IL pulls out very readily at this time.
The washers hold the sheep under the
falling water, squeezing the wool until
the water rms away clear. 1t is sur
-prising to see how quickly the fleece Of
a sheep, well soaked by previous rain,
is cleansed. .f17a7a fa
OF all farm operations, sheep wash
ing most needs 'the eye Of the master"
In the excitement of the rude scene,
the flock are liable to abuse, aud too
often from the crowdiug in the crowd.
ed pen, heated from over driving, or
handling, serious losses occur; and
sheep are not unfrequently found in the
pen dead, or in a dying condition.
They must be driven slowly from the
washing to clean pasture. The whole
operation is 4 most distressing one to
the sheep, increased almost uniformity
by the roughness of the men, the best
of whom think it fine sport, and show
no tenderness or humanity in the hand
ling of the poor frightened beasts. In
about a week, if the weather is dry
they will be ready for shearing. They
must not only be perfectly dry but tho
yolk must flow SO as to give an oily
softness to the wool. The barn floor
is usually used for shearing, and must
be repeatedly swept as the fresh shorn
wool is easily soiled. Careful shearers,
who will never waste the wool by cut
ting it in two, nor wound the sheep,
though this care make them slower,
are to be preferred to those who cut
and slash to do great days work.
In doing up the fleece, the inner side
of the wool must be out, and there
must be no concealed dirt within. The
>hrewd wool buyer buries his nose in
thesnowy fleece 8. like dog after game,
aud external purity will not serve to
conceal dishonesty and filth lurking
within. Before the sheep are turned
away they receive the owners mark on
the side. Use mixture Of spirits Of
turpentine, linseed oil and lamp black.
Turpentine facilitates the drying, but
nsed in excess. the mark washes off too
easily. The tar bucket must be on
hand, and daub on the nose is sup
posed to be sovereign remedy to pre-
vent all future ailments With fine
wool sheep which lamb in May, dock
ing and castrating the lambs may be
performed at the time of shcaring, but
if the lambs are earlier it may be best
done while the weather is cool. They
suffer less while they are small and
there are no flies TO attack the wounds.
The tail should be cut off at the first
joint, leaving the skin long enough to
cover the stump.-Americdn AgrieuE
taGrist.