lime and sulphur, tobacco and sulphur, and two proprietary carbolic dips. At the end of about two months, after three dippings, all of the sheep showed a gain, with the exception of one of the sheep from the carbolic dip, which lost slightly. The lowest gain among the sheep treated with tobacco dip was 34 pounds, the highest 114 pounds. The lowest gain among the sheep treated with lime and sulphur was 7 pounds, the highest 84 pounds. The lowest gain among the sheep treated with the carbolic dip was 14 pounds, the highest 3 pounds, while one animal lost pound. The sheep were given a fourth dipping, and at the end of another month showed the following gains and losses over their original weight at first dipping: Sheep treated with tobacco, 9 to 15 pounds gain; sheep treated with lime and sulphur, 11 to 14 pounds gain; sheep treated with carbolic dip, 1 to 64 pounds gain, in one case 134 pounds lost. The experiment was then repeated, the lime and sulphur being used on sheep previously dipped in carbolic or tobacco dips, and vice versa. After ten days the sheep treated with lime and sulphur had gained from 2 to 3 pounds; the sheep treated with tobacco had remained stationary or had lost from 1 to 14 pounds; the sheep treated with carbolic dip had gained as high as 1 pound or remained stationary or had lost as much as 24 pounds. At this point circumstances intervened which closed the experiments for the season. Gillette has also made determinations of the loss of weight of sheep from dipping. Part of his results agree with ours and part differ. The chief point of difference in opinion is that Gillette considers that the best conclusion can be based upon weights taken a few days after dipping, while we consider the weight at a later period as the better criterion. Gillette gives weights from November 17 to December 22, and, taking the cases where the sheep have been dipped twice, we see from his tables that the carbolic sheep gained on an average 6 pounds, the sheep treated with tobacco gained 8 pounds, the sheep treated with arsenical dip gained 8 pounds, the sheep treated with lime and sulphur gained 9 pounds, while the sheep which were not dipped, in order to give a basis for comparison, gained 6 pounds. Holding in mind that sheep may apparently gain or lose about 3 pounds per day when not dipped, it is seen from the experiments by Gillette, in Colorado, and by this Bureau, in the District of Columbia, that the oft-repeated claim that lime-and-sulphur dips give a greater setback than other dips are erroneous. In both the Western and the Eastern experiments the sheep treated with lime and sulphur averaged 1 Unfortunately for the comparison, this lot did not receive the same fodder as the others. the greatest gain, the sheep treated with tobacco the second highest gain, while the carbolic sheep showed the lowest gain. DIPPING PLANTS. There are numerous kinds of dipping plants in use, the size and style varying according to the conditions which are to be met and the individual taste of the owner. The farmer who has but a small flock can use a small portable vat for dipping, turning a part of his barn or some shed into a catching pen; by holding the sheep a moment at the top of the incline, as the animals emerge from the vat, and allowing them to drain, he can do away with the necessity of a draining yard. When large flocks are to be dipped at stated periods it will be economy to build a permanent plant. Such a plant should consist of (1) collecting and forcing yards, provided with a (2) drive, and (3) chute, or slide, into the (4) dipping vat, from which an (5) incline with cross cleats leads to the (6) draining yards. For a small vat any Heating tanks or boilers are also necessary. portable caldron (figs. 23 and 24) with a capacity of 30 to 100 gallons will answer, and the proper temperature may be maintained by pouring fresh hot ooze into the vat as the supply is exhausted by the dipping. In the large permanent plants the temperature can best be regulated by means of a steam pipe or hot-water coil close to the floor of the tub. Thermometers are an absolute necessity. The floating dairy thermometer (fig. 25) will be found to be most convenient, and several extra thermometers should be kept on hand to replace broken instruments. The thermometer is dropped into the vat and allowed to float for a short time, then quickly removed and the temperature determined. It is well to make paint marks at the side of the 100° and 110° points. Building material.-The yards and vat may be built of wood, concrete, cemented stone, or brick, according to the individual taste of the owner and the facilities at hand. Dimensions.-The dimensions of the various parts given in the following descriptions may be varied according to the breed and the number of sheep to be dipped. Dipping liquid will be saved by making the tub much narrower on the bottom than at the top. On top, simple oblong dipping tanks vary from 1 foot 9 inches to 3 feet in breadth, 2 feet or 2 feet 6 inches forming a convenient medium. Floors vary from 6 inches to 3 feet in width, 9 inches forming a good working medium. Depth varies from 3 feet to 5 feet 6 inches, 4 feet to 5 feet forming a convenient medium. If calves are to be dipped in the same vat, it will be best to make the tub 5 feet or 5 feet 6 inches deep. In sinking the tub in the ground it is always well to have the top of the tub 9 inches above the ground line. It is also well to sink one end (where the sheep are thrown in) slightly lower than the other end, as this will make it easier to empty for boiling dip. half inch round or three-quarters FIG. 23.-A simple caldron which may be used inch halfround. The form of the crutches is shown in figs. 26 and 27. Gauges. The capacity of tubs should be plainly marked on the side every 3 or 6 inches, in order to correctly measure the amount of liquid. SMALL PORTABLE VATS FOR SMALL FLOCKS. If no regular dipping vat is at hand, a good-sized tub may be used, as shown in fig. 28. Dipping in this manner is slow and tedious, but 7204 -9 may be resorted to in case of necessity, as, for instance, A small portable vat, suitable for use FIG. 26.-A crutch, or FIG. 27.-Another style of crutch, or dipping fork. in dipping small flocks, is shown in fig. 30. When not in An advan tage connected with this vat is that it may be drawn from 2 FIG. 28.-Dipping sheep in a tub. (Copied from Stewart's The Shepherd's place to place as desired. The dimensions here given may be varied, according to individual taste, by making the vat longer, broader, or deeper. A convenient size will be 9 feet |