THE YEOMAN.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume I, Issue 48, 2 December 1867, Page 3

THE YEOMAN.

. SHEARING. Sheep should always he shorn on smooth clean floors with pens on either side. One side being appropriated to the unshorn sheep and the other side to the shorn ones; and to prevent any shearer disowning a badly-shorn sheep every man should have a small pen to himself, out of which the overseer will - take delivery of the sheep, and have an opportunity of examining them minutely as he counts them out. The overseer, or person in charge of a shed during shearing will have his time well occupied, if be attend properly to all that 'is going on. His first and chief consideration will be to see that the sheep are well and carefully shorn. Mr Henry Stephens, in his “Book of the Farm,” -thus describes the pperation of shearing. He says:— “ The -shears are used in a particular manner, to be safe alike to the fleece and -the skin of the animal. The .essential particular ever to be atteuded to in clipping, is to '“ keep the points always clear-of the skin ; ” fof if they rest upon it they will; inevitably either run into it or make a large gash in it before the clipper is; aware of the mischief he is'doing. This is an error commonly committed by new clippers, by holding the hand too high above the wool, aud ios a great offence in any experienced clipper. The sure way of avoiding this seriops injury'tp sheep is to rest only the .broad part of the blades of the shears upon

the skin; in widen position, with ' the skin •drawn a little, not too tight, by the left hand, the shears slide upon it with a hold of the: wool with their- points, which are never brought nearer thaipan.inch apart, while the clips are made short and frequent. The form of the sheep’s body being round, ’the shears should not make sp long a; clip, as, tp bring the points of the blades together at every stroke,, for if they do, they • will cut the wool with their points at a considerable elevation above the skin,-at a point in advance of the place where the broad part is cutting close to the skin; the wool, in fact, .would be cut in two places at once.” Experienced shearers, however, can often use the shears so dexterously as to avoid these injudicious slashes, and at the same time use the whole' length of the blades, The author has often witnessed their evolutions with great interest and no little pleasure. They make three clips every time they put the shears into the wool. The first cut is with the widest part of the blades, and the shearer’s hand low down close to the sheep’s body. The second cut is with the middle part of the blades and the hand raised so as to bring the shears into a horizontal position. The third cut is with the point of the shears and the hand raised still higher. This process continues until the whole of the fleece is taken off without being broken, without cutting gashes into the wool, or cutting the skin. We cannot over-rate the importance -of close and even clipping. If the fleece is not taken off evenly, and tufts are left here and there, which require clipping off afterwards, it will be deteriorated in value, and the scraps of wool taken off by the second clipping, or trimming will have to go amongst the locks, and sell for a lower price than the fleece-wool. If gashes are cut into the fleece with the points of the shears,, the wool below such gashes will fall through the rails of the wool table into the locks, and the remainder of the staple will be so much shorter and of less value. Another consideration is to avoid cutting the skin of the sheep. It is difficult to avoid doing this occasionally—but a shearer who makes frequent and severe cuts should he at once discharged. Whenever a sheep is cut the wound should be covered with tar as a protection against the fly. When a large number of shearers are employed, a hoy is usually in attendance with a pot of tar, and runs at the call of any shearer who wants him.

Mr Joshua Sugden, says;—“ Another thing which ought to be prevented and is seldom -done, is the breaking of the fleeces by the shearers. Some do it by treading aud twisting the fleeces about their legs, others in rounding their sheep, and others in their buny-scurry where they are, as it is. termed, running one another, and in kicking away the fleeces before .going in or after fetching another sheep from catching-pen. In the latter case, this could be obviated hy having those employed picking up the fleeces from the shearers, being constantly attentive and watching the progress of every shearer, so as to be ready the moment he has finished, and to be smart and active in taking the fleeces away;, also, it requires those engaged in this to be careful, as through Clumsiness of manner or sheer carelesness, they often break the fleeces. Boys or youths are well suited for this purpose, not having to bend the back so much, they do not get wearied as soon as men. The shearing boards should be kept constantly swept and clean from pieces and locks; in some sheds there is a very mistaken attempt of economy by not providing a sufficient supply of good brooms. American brooms are the best. Some will make the men cut long grass, tea tree, or other plants to make brooms of; this is wrong, as the leaves acd bits get into the wool, pieces, or locks, which do them harm.”

, After a sheep is shorn it is always branded conspicuously with one or more of the initial -letters of the owner’s name. The mark is made by a simple instrument, consisting of a wooden handle, with an iron shank, at the end of which are the capital letters used as the station brand. Many squatters brand with tar or paint, but a mixture of ruddle and grease is decidedly preferable to any other preparation. The rain has little effect upon it, and it remains perfectly legible and consp'icious from one shearing to another. On the application of hot water it becomes soft and is easily washed off without any of the wool having to ; be cut away. By branding in different places, or by using a number along with the initial letters, you can have a distinguishing mark by which to know at a glance, the sex, age, &c., of any particular flock. The men appointed to roll the fleeces spread them out on the wool table, with the clipped side downwards, They will first of all remove >any extraneous substances, such as dung, bits of grass, or burs. They also pull off any stained portions, and any coarse or kempy parts, also the belly ■ wool—and any grey, harsh, > curly, or matted portions are also thrown aside. After the removal of all these objectionable parts, the fleece is folded in the following manner. Each side is folded over towards the middle of the ' fleece. The neck is then folded towards the breech and the breech towards the neck. When folded close and compact a string is passed round it and tied, so as, to prevent any disarangement in its passage to the press.— Joedok on Sheep Management.”