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season. Both of these modes of management will be after-wards nqticed.
14. When the wool has risen sufficiently from the pelt,(and the proper time is easily known by the appearanceof a new growth), the ewe hogs and barren sheep arebrought to the washing pool. If they have been kept ingood condition through the preceding winter, they are readyfor being shorn towards the end of June, and they arewashed as a necessary preparation. Sometimes they arehand-washed by men who stand in the pool, and have thesheep forced towards them singly; but more commonly, theCheviot sheep, especially if the flock be numerous, are com-pelled to leap into the pool in a body for three or four timessuccessively, and it is desirable that they should have roomto swim a little, and come out on a green low bank on theopposite side. The ewes are washed in the same manner, afew days after. It was formerly the general practice, and stillcontinues to be sq in many situations, to delay washing theewes till the lambs were ready for being weaned or sent fromthe farm ; but upon lower farms, where the pastures are good,and the ewes in decent condition, it is common to shear themsooner, as a load of wool in warm weather, is very injuriousto their thriving, fosters vermin, and sometimes disables themfrom rising when they have lain down on their back, inwhich state they soon perish. The principal objection toearlier washing, is, that a few of the lambs sometimes do notafterwards recognise their dams, especially after they areshorn.
15. After being washed, the sheep are preserved as far asPossible from rubbing against earthen dikes or banks, andh'om lying down on any dirty spot which, might soil their"ool. If there is no access to such places, it is consideredatl advantage to delay shearing them for eight or ten days;k^t they arc more commonly shorn as soon as they are suffi-C1 ently dry, which, if there has been no rain in the interval,111 a y be in forty-eight hours or less. There are two methods