The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1896-11-14

Snccp moving INTO the cnUte. ana MT
mcrous helpers who are employed in
various ways about the place.
After the sheep are all shorn they are
driven q few miles to the dipping pens.
where they are "dipped' in chemical
solution that kills the "Scab' parasites.
| These parasites are of several kinds
ana are death to the animal unless the
''scab'' is killed. One kind OF parasite
is known as the sheep tick. 1t causes
q great deal Of loss and tllrivcs best on
beasts il poor condition with weak
tecccs. The sheep tick lives by suck
! ing the blood of the sheep and their
bites cause much irritation and itching
on account Of the poison secreted while
| feeding.
There is also the scab mite. which
causes the most dreaded of all sheep
diseases, the ''scab." 1t causes more
loss TO oyncrS than al other kinds Of
insects and diseases combined. The
scab mites burrow in the skin. where
they lay their eggs. After three days the
eggs hatch and in twelve days more the
young are full grown As each female
lays about fifteen eggs at Il time. three
fourths OF Which, produce female in.
sccts, the rapidity with which
the insects multiply and the
disease spreads is easily account
ed for. -Four or five scab mites
picked up on the range will produce
! millions i'll i few weeks and infect the
whole flock.
Aside from these two there arc The
sheep louise. They prefer long-woolel
sheep and affect the beasts condition
by loss Of the blood tE.ay live On and by
the irritation they cause. The eggs of
the lGusc are laid ut the base Of the wool
fiber. to which they adhere until the
young emerge
Inc dipping pens are rather small
buildings around which arc corrals,
where the aocks stay. Leading from
tn Hse cC,rals is trough about 100 feet
long dug in the ground. This trough is
filled with what is known as sheep din,
Il chemical compound that kills the par
asitos. This trough is about five feet
deep and into it the animals plunge anC
swim the entire length of it, emerging
into c0rrals at the other end. Men are
stationed at intervals along this trough
and with long poles push the swimming
sheep under the liquid in order that |
they may be entirely submerged. The
dip does not injure the sheep, unless q
storm follows.
The hcrdcrs and shcarers lead a rest
less life. The sheep travel in bands of |
about 1900 each. There are two herd !
cls with each band. One of them tends |
the sheep and protects them from the |
coyotes and wolves, and the other is
known as tho camp mover. 1t is his |
business to select sites for new camps
when it is deemed advisable to move,
take care Of the tents and baggage and
move the camp.
The men live in tents for the most
part, although some Of them. generally
married men, have immense wagons.
canvas covered, in which they live witt,
their families. These wagons are very
picturesque and arc often furnished in
the best style, with spring beds, cook
stove. cupboalds. -four chests and Ill
conveniences. They live in them the
year round, and know no other home.
The shcarers are generally rovers.
They go in bands from place to place,
as the shearing progresses.
Last spring the steam shearing ma
chine was introduced. Experienced op-
orators from Australia were brought
over. and tie introduction OF the ma
chine was attended by great expense.
The machine proved practically use
less. 1t was found that they did not do
the work any quicker than it was done
by hand, and the sand and oil that is
found in the wool retarded the action
of the machines. It is not believed they
will be used again. as the expense nee
eSSary to operate them and keep them
in repair is more than the business will
warrant at the present low price Of
WOOL
The principal markets are Chicago,
Boston and Philadelphia. Representa-
tivcs from the largest commission
houses in these cities come every year
to contract for the WOOL The price
ranges from 5 cents to cents for wool
"in the grease" this being the term ap-
Piled to the wool as it is Immediately
after sheariEg.
A YOUTHFUL PLAYER.