The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-08-06
Live Stock.
SHEEP IN THE SOUTH.



Old Custom Not NeOessary-soience and
Art in Sheep Raising-One Way Carefully
Notwithstanding Bench.
Correspondence of The Progressive Farmer.
Shearing time is another impor-
tant cleaning season, from the sheep
for their owners. Flocks that are
housed at night and from cold rains
and storms may be shorn four to six
weeks before what is termed the
usually safe period at which to shear
sheep. In such fiocks it is well to
shear the ewes at least 10 days before
their lambing period commences. If
they have warm quarters and are
doing well, it is best for the ewes in
every way that they be shorn before
lambing but they must be carefully,
kindly and tenderly handled during
the whole process.
They will consume more food than
efore shearing, and should have it
for some days. Sheep, when shorn,
begin to improve in spirits and
flesh within ten days if they have
enough to eat. This early taking on
of flesh before the hot days of sum-
rner is an important matter, espe-
cially to ewes raising lambs, and is
heavy item in favor of early shear
ing. However, it is Improbable,
ana, even cruel, to allow newly shorn
sheep to take a cold rain or shiver
through a cold night or frosty morn
ing.
Seasons differ, and the date to
shear cannot be arbitrarily set; but
for sheep that mostly run out on the
pastures, it is nearly always quite
safe to shear them when the first
leaves of the oak trees are cleverly
out in good size. By this time the
grease (yelk) of well-kept sheep is
flowing freely.
It is a custom, known to be as old
almost as the history of sheep, to
wash the fleece while yet on the
sheep. If the f1ock is near a river or
large creek of clear water tits light
job, but if one must dam up stream,
prepare a spout and tank, and wait
in the spring until the water becomes
warm enough not to injure the sheep,
and to cleanse the wool thoroughly,
it becomes a matter involving both
time and expense. It is only an old
custom, and custom should yield to
changed conditions.
The methods of cleaning wool for
the cards and of manufacturing the
some into the modern, useful fab
ribs for the people, is wondrously
changed from that of ancient times,
or of hundred, Or even fifty years
ago. Manufacturers have often told
me they would rather purchase the
wool as it comes from the sleeps
back, osborn in the grease" than to
have it partially cleansed. Almost
of any buyer of these days can make
the proper allowance for dirt or
grease. So it may be considered,
at least unnecessary, to wash sheep.
Shearing sheep may be science
as we'll as an art. The science con-
sists in holding the sheep so that it
shall rest easy and contented while
the fleece is being taken off, and in
the fact of securing that fleece with
full length of fibre retained, while a
short, smooth surface is left on the
sheep from which to secure another
fleece. The art consists in the skill
full handling of the sheep to the first
ends, and also in skilful handling of
the instruments in securing the
fleece.
More simply stated, there are ways
and ways of shearing sheep. There
are thousands who believe that the
way they do it is far better than 5he
ways followed by others Some shear
on benches of different heights, and
many prefer to hold and shear the
sheep on the floor, and few are
found yet who tie the poor little ami
NAL securely and then proceed at
leisure to scissor the wool off, and,
likely, a part of the skin. Every
one may be allowed to shear his own
way so long as he handles the sheep
kindly and carefully to the scientific
end, and skiIfully does his work we'll
and enough of it.
l will describe but one way or
method which was the one prac-
ticed with my own head and hands,
when l turned off from the bench