The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-06-03
For The Cecil Wing.
SHEEP AND SHEEP SHEARING.

y
riculturist. We will not stop to con-
slider the actual value in meat and wool
that they afford, nor enter largely into
the almost necessity that they have be-
come, as a sustaining food and the only
means of furnishing both fine and coarse
fabrics for the raiment of men and
women. In either or any aspect in
which sheep culture may be considered,
it is an indisputable fact that they, of
all animals, contribute most to the COM
fort of the civilized races of mankind.
They give raiment and food more cheap
ly than any other animal, or to be OBJ
tanned from any vegetable production
known to civilization. They are more
harmless and obedient to man than any
other animal. They return greater
profit for the amount of care and trou-
BILE bestowed than any other domestic
animal. Yet they are less protected
and cared for than any beast on the
farm, as general rule, even the ass or
the mule
We have, at last, secured law
which will indirectly protect them, if
the owners of sheep will manfully
stand up in their own defense and adj
here to the provisions of the statute
and consult practically their interest in
increasing their focks and improving
the same by breeding from rams of
acknowledged worth and good blood,
either of Southdown, Cotswold or other
equally meritorious breeds.
If the weather becomes warm and
settled after the middle of May sheep
may be SHARED Between the first and
tenth of June is the best time to shear
sheep. If they are sheared before the
long, cold rain that invariably comes in
May, they materially suffer during that
spell, and some never get over it, No
matter what the time may be when
sheared, they ought to be housed, dur
ing storms, for few weeks, until they
have become used to the change caused
by the loss of their heavy and warm
feeces
Sheep shearing is one of the most
delicate operations on the farm. The
master should be present to see that
the shearers perform their work skill
fully, quietly and with the utmost gen
tleness and kindness to these patient
animals, that sometimes, from fright
alone, are so restless as to provoke the
anger of the shearers, and then they
use unnecessary violence, instead of pa
tience, whereby the poor sheep suffers
injuries. Practical shearers, who are
skilled, ought only to be employed in
this work. An active man, who thor
oughly understands his business, will
shear eighty sheep per day for a week
and never draw drop of blood 1t is
best to tag the sheep before beginning
to shear After the fleece is removed it
should be tightly and neatly rolled up
and tied on clean floor If it is de-
sired to separate the wool, so as to
have a superior fine wool class, that
which comes off the shoulders is always
of the best quality in the entire fleece
A clean floor is used for shearng on,
though it is thought much better to
have bench or shearing table to save
the shearer from so much STOPPING
while at work
Before turning the sheep loose, tar
its nose well with pitch tar, which
ought to be on hand always, to use
often in smearing the inside of the salt
troughs, so that the animals, when
licking salt, will get a portion of the
tar, which is very wholesome, besides
is almost certain defense against the
Gad-fy, a troublesome pest to sheep in
Summer, more particularly during July
and August. This fly deposits eggs in
the nostril, and quickly the grub is
Matched and crawls up and lodges in
the sinews of the head, feeding on the
mucus secreted by the membranes until
the following Spring, when they crawl
down again, to continue their natural
reproduction. These maggots, if they
do not kill the poor animal, are con-
slant source of much irritation and
wearying annoyance
At the time of shearing, such old
sheep and lambs as are designed for the
butcher should be designated by mark
ing of some sort, SO that hereafter they
can be easily distinguished and separat-
ed, when it is required, from the rest of
the flock.
After week, when the weather is
warm and clear, the flock should he
folded, and every old sheep and lamb
submitted to immersion in prepared
dip" or bath, for the purpose of de-
stroying the ticks and other vermin
which are, if numerous, fatal to the
growth and health of the old and
young.
This bath is made of lbs. of trash
or common tobacco stepped in 20 gal
Ions of hot water, and kept so, for some
time, not boiled add a pound of flour
of sulphur, and when the mixture is
cooled, so as to be only warm, put it in
big trough or half hogshead, and two
men can quickly dip sheep. Keep
the head and eyes out of the liquid,
and let the rest of the body remain a
minute in the dip, until it has penetrat-
ed to the skin. Stand the sheep up
and let it drip, until most of the liquor
runs off, then turn it on clean grass.
If tobacco is not convenient, use the
concentrated tobacco soap, to be now
found in quantities for such and other
agricultural purposes, and is of great
value to any farmer, besides it is quite
cheap. Strong carbolic soap suds and
sulphur will answer in place of to-
bacco, and by many is recommended
highly.
1t is clear reason that by cleaning
flock Of all vermin, washing out all
grease and dirt from the WOOL and
cleansing the skin by removing all &C
cumulated scurf and thus opening the
pores, the health and comfort of the
animals must necessarily be highly i'm
proved. Every one who keeps fifty or
one hundred sheep would do we'll to
provide himself with all things requisite,
which would cost only trihe, so that
he could give, with ease and dispatch,
twice or thrice during the Summer and
Fall, each animal thorough bath in