SHEARING SHEEP.

Patea Mail, 2 December 1881, Page 1

SHEARING SHEEP.

A writer in the Canterbury Times says: Shearing is one of the chief operations of summer, and for the benefit of those who have not had a lengthened experience in this country, a few remarks will not be out of place. Some flocfcowners shear as early as the latter end of October, but the most of the shearing is done during November and December, some of the back stations, however, not beginning till the first month of the New Year. It is generally desirable that long-woolled sheep should be shorn before the end of November. When the warm weather comes on their wool is an encumbrance, and keeps them from putting on condition. They are also liable to get cast up on their backs, and nnless they are very carefully watched, there is sure to be considerable mortality from this cause. In classifying the wools a few distinct lines should be observed, but it is a mistake to draw over tine distinction between the various sorts. In almost every flock a great variety of wool may be detected, but it is of no practical use to classify each different shade. In a flock of boggetts, for instance, the clean wool may generally be divided into ttvo distinct classes, according to staple, and it is very questionable whether there is anything gained by drawing finer distinctions. Sandy fleeces should, it is hardly necessary to say, be separated from the undamaged wool, and it is advisable to scour it before shipping. Skirting should be carefully done, all the bellypieces and locks being scrupulously removed from the fleece, and afterwards scoured. Whether it pays to wash the sheep before shearing is a matter about which there seems to be some doubt. The practice of the majority of flockowners is in favor of shearing in the grease, but of course this is largely

owing to the force of circumstances. The necessary water supply is not obtainable in many localities, and in addition to running water, good clean paddocks for the sheep to run in between washing and shearing are required.