New-York tribune., 1907-07-14
THE BRITISH WOOL HARVEST
Wool from 5000 Sheep Worth $5,0O0-How
the Fleece Is Clipped.

The busiest time of the British shee, 9,--,o- 80
%Ciioouotedly - the month of June. Then the weather
- a. .oSt ta'o able Tor reapng his harvest of wool
m U4e mountainous districts II IS quite cusronpa -,
-or single farmer to own as n7anv as o0a eEoaS
1ES III BITS. His farm. maybe, covers ten or
WE'VE we've square miles OF fell ana moorand country
LHFoughout the year he and his shepherds have
simply overlooked the iocks-driven thern 70 loTer
.eEelS when billiards., or drouth have
M tiI-eIlehed' tended them in accident and disease
ana Kept sharp lookout against the fox IN larnb
'is uine, such has been comparatively easv worI,
or chpping purposes. however it is necessary
- 5aI.sI an the sheep together-wtthout leaving
single one behind. with miles upon miles of six
Ioot pracken, enording complete shelter for thou
What TO the few would be inpnssihle 20 +b.
HaIS becomes simple. Recognizing this sheep
farmers combine their forces Each farrn.r boa op
appointed day for his washing" upon which al
his neighbors, with their eervants lend hin, tpeir
help; ana IN return he and his men go and work
neiEhbors.
Thus. early on a sheep wash" morning farmer
may hnd dozen men and lads at his disposaI
with as many, If not more, dogs. With such
skiileu force well distributed the feIIs can be swept
clean OF all the scattered sheep. Starting at the
extreme limits os the holdings and aGvanctn-
abreast at intervals of up to half mile tr ts s,,r
prisng how rapidly the sheep can be gathered
Al some convenient centre fold has been built
by the side of stream. Here the sheen ara
penned' and the drivers refresh themselves with
the good things provided by the womenfoIk there
assembled BY 10 or Il o'clock probably the whole
OF te Sneep VIII have heen inclosed Several
young fellows don waterproofs and wade into the
stream below a narrow, open ended pen in the fold
one by one the sheep are pitched head first INFO
Ihe tuh as the spot Is known: swiftly but thor
oughly they are cleansed and then allowed to swim
10 the opposite bank where they soon regain their
normal peace Of mind and gently nibble at the
growing grass.
From thirty 10 sixty sheep a washer an hour
can be dealt with in this manner according 70 the
state or cleanliness. At the same time stock IS
taken' the seasons yield OF lambs is noted and he
norm markings are verified. Members Of other
nocks are frequently come across. and such are
p4actd IN special pens for further attention
a rev days after the washing comes the clipping
IN liIe interval the sheep have been kept In the
teIus near the farm, that they are easily ac-
r.1oIe. By patient and continuous labor each
'eF could accomplish his clipping without
o4oslue help. but custom favors the combined
i'IeIl"d or work Consequently. II is by no means
PRIMARY at some OF the largest sheep clips 10
SEE llrty stalwart dalesmen handling the shears
OF At work among the heeces. The sheltered pnr-
uons Of the farmyard and beneath the trees in
ul7 adjoining fields the favorite working cor
trestIe upon which he overturns the sheep as they
can clip upward Of seveuty-fve sheep in a day
TOP the hundred. Greater speed can be attained
late owing 10 its knotry nature. and farmers gen
orally prefer the slower but process of hand
clipping. Fieeces vary in value according 70 the
breed Of the sheep. being worth anything upward
Of four shinEs each
Thus the wool OF a flock ot 5000 sheep IS worth
at the very least Il 600 and y the market Is good
considerably