Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 September 1903 — PLUCKING SHEEP. [ARTICLE]

PLUCKING SHEEP.

Shearing; Proceae Wot Deed la Ska* long oa Pmro Bred^AalmaU. The pure bred sheep In Shetland sjw not shorn, but plucked. The proemtakes place generally in June, when? the fleece is “ripe” and the silky wooß can be pulled off without pain. This is called “rootng" and is much* less damaging to the young fiber thane clipping with Bhears. The wool when, thus handled retains its peculiar softness, so that any one of experience can* tell whether the material of a knitted, article has been plucked or shorn, Jtripens first upon the neck and shoulders, so that sheep half pulled resemble* in some sort n poodle that is clippedWe must suppose that harsher handling prevailed at one time, for we readthat in 1016 the Scottish privy council spoke of the custom as still kept up “to some remote and uncivil places,” and James I. wrote to tell them that it hadbeen put down in Ireland under penalty of a fine. Upon this they passed an I *- act on March 17, 1016, deploring the ~ destruction of sheep thus caused and 1 imposing similar fines an those who should persist In the practice.. ,