Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-06-10
For the Standard.
Treatment of Sheep.

ry about washing because others are
washing for sheep should not be washed
more than from s to ~ days before
shearing in warm weather. The fleece
should become thoroughly dry, and be
so far again fabricated with yolk as to
haye its natural silky feeling and glossy
appearance. More of it is secreted in a
very hot day than in half dozen cool
ones.
II has often been the case with many
of us to be compelled to let our sheep
run from 20 to 80 days before shearing
for being behind time in engaging suit
able shearers. Let US now, (for | reckon
myself with wool growers) make clean
thing Of our wool this year, so that we
should not be ashamed 10 have our wool
60 directly to the manufacturers with our
names upon each fleece; we know that
has not been the case with US all. For
there have been some serious frauds
practiced by what we esteem Tin other
matters) honest men, by pretending to
wash their sheep and not half doing 1t.
Twenty year ago when wool growers
sought to excel in the cleanness and
beauty of their wool, rather than the
amount of dirt and grease, it required
four good men to wash 100 merino sheep
IN fou. hours, and one man to hand them
into the water. But for the last five
years men have become more expert and
the order of things is reversed, for to-
day it requires about four men to throw
them in for one 10 wash. There are
some exceptions to this rule, for some
men have remained honest, and their
wool sells readily at the highest price,
Now let US all be honest, and let Vermont
redeem her reputation that has been re-
duced to such low degree by fraud
practiced by half washing, putting into
the feeces unwashed taggings, pulled
wool, and putting on twenty or thirty
yards Of coarse Irvine upon each fleece,
that cost about a shilling per pound and ,
selling it for wool.
l have been enquired of as to the best
mode of catching, handling and shear
ing sheep. have sheared more or less
each year for the last twenty-five years, :,
/ learn something new every year. There
are but two safe ways in which sheep
should be caught either by throwing the Il
hands about the neck or by siezing one m
hind leg Just above the hook, when thus =,
caught by the hand the sheep should be .
drawn gently back until the other hand II
can be placed in front of the neck, when al
you have the sheep in your power, then y
The sheep should be lifted by placing 70
the arms around the body, Immediately -,
back Of the fore legs, or by throwing one .,
arm round the foreparts and taking upl 81
the sheep between the arm and the hip. 6,
A change between the two operations is .;
relief to the catcher who has large :.
number to handle. Under no circum- -
stances whatever should a sheep be
caught, and much less lifted by the wool.
The skin is sometimes torn from the flesh L
in this brutal mode Of handling. Let e
him who doubts the improperly of catch v
ing and lifting sheep byahe wool, have a
himself lifted few times by his hair. :
1t is difficult to give any practical d. Il
rections for shearing to the inexperienced, s
and the experienced shearers need none. t
The art can only be properly acquired c
by experience and observation. A few
suggestions, however, may not be entire
ly useless. In the first place great care
should be taken that all dust and dirt
should be removed from.the shearing
floor, and also the straw and chaf from
over head. If the weather is fair it is {
best to drive only enough sheep into the
pen or stable at once to employ the shear
ers, at most half day, the rest remain c
ing in the pasture to keep themselves filled |
with food. A hungry sheep is more i'm
patient, and the shears run round its col I
lapsed belly and sides with more difficult |
ty. The bottom of the pen should be |
kept clean with straw, sawdust or corn
cobs. When the catcher catches sheep /
in the pen, he should lift it in his arms t
clear off the floor, instead of dragging it c
TO the door and thus filling its feet with a
straw, manure, &c. At the door of the y
pen he should hold the sheep up with its v
back resting against his own body and e
its feet towards the shearer; who with !,
proper shaped stick should clean its feet 81
OF loose filth, and with short broom to n
brush from its belly any straw, chaff or b
sawdust--beiore the sheep is carried to {:
the place of shearing, learned one b
thing last season that proved comfort to v
the sheep as well as 10 the shearer - il
That is couch made as follows, take NJ
three yards Of hop sacking, bring the two b
ends together and sew up the sides, max 81