HOME- MADE SHEEP DIPS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2074, 28 December 1907, Page 2 (Supplement)

HOME- MADE SHEEP DIPS.

ARSENIC AND CAUSTIC SODA. A sheep dijj which will effectually kill off all parisitic life to which sheep aro heir can easily and cheaply lib made from tho above materials; but as to tho wisdom of suoli seemingly economical policy there aro gravo reasons for doubt, particularly if any significance is to bo attached to tho xironounccments of leading Bradford authorities on tho subject. After ail is said, the men who manufacture the raw material into cloth aro the. best judges of what gives them the greatest satisfaction; and it is ill tiie best interests of growers to produce wool the manufacturer wants and for which he is jirepai-ed to pay top firices. It may he argued that toji xirices are sometimes obtained for wools diiixied in liome-mado preparations. That may bo so, but close investigation would reveal the fact that cacli fleeoe had suffered in weight to a sensible degree. Men, no doubt, may question why this should ho so, and the answer is easy, because it is quite certain that every farmer or slieep-owner who attomxits to make his own sheep dip does not possess sufficient knowledge of chemistry to enable him to make the necessary tests at the various Btages of manufacture to ensure that liis preparation is of uniform quality and strength throughout. Hence he may be a. heavy loser through the effects of his home-made dip quite unknown to himself. It is a remark frequently heard among sheep men that certain dijis leave the wool harsh to the touch. To whab is this harshness due? Simply to tho fact that the materials used in tho dipping-bath have had a detrimental effect on the wool fibre—in other words, the little cells of which each “hair” of wool is composed have been permanently injured, and this is what causes tho reduction in tho weight of tho fleece.

When slieexi are <1 ipped off shears with a crude arsenical xirexiaration the wool fclllicles, or roots, are liable to get injured from tho action of the arsenic; consequently the crop is not so luxuriant as it would be were the roots left uninvpaired. Only long and costly experiments can demonstrate this, but it is significant that the men who breed the highest type of sheep ill tlio world to-day would never dream of using such a xirexiaration as lias been discussed above. They have done the experimenting, have tried and proved ell tilings in connection with -their calling, and are now startling t«e pastoral world with tlio results they are obtaining. What these men have to say regarding sheexi dixis should he worth listening to’. these men have to say regarding sheex> di'xis should bo worth listening to. .Mr. Henry Diulding, of Riby. Grove, England, who obtained the record price of -tlo'2'2 Ids for a Lineoi'u ram in July, 1906, writing to Messrs Quibell Bros. (Ltd.). Newark, to their “Improved” Powder Dip a few weeks before effecting that historic sale, states: “I cannot speak too highly of its quality for killing tilth, preventing the attack of maggot fly, and improving the fleece of wool.” Then, speaking of merino breeders, wo have the verdict of Mr. John S. Horsfall, of Widgicwa, the most renowned Australian pastoral ■ Ist to-day, who, after carefully experimenting with perhaps every other standard tlij> on the market has decided to discard them all! in favor of Quibell’s. Actions always uponk mote eloquently than words.