SHEEP DIP TRIALS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6784, 16 February 1884, Page 3

SHEEP DIP TRIALS.

The sheep dip trials inaugurated by Mr Hayward took place at Mr Wm. Douglas's, Poukawa, on Thursday and yesterday. A considerable number of gentleman interested in wool-growing and in the cleanliness of their sheep were present. Mr Douglas kindly placed his dip at Mr Hay ward's disposal, and at 10 o'clock on each morning dipping began. Messrs Tomlinson and Hayward's Glycerine Dip, the same as used in Hawke's Bay last year, was the first tested, and so soon as 1200 gallons of liquid had been mixed, which filled the bath, Mr Douglas's stud rams, very valuable and bulky sheep by the way, were put in to begin the swim. Previous to this several gentlemen present had examined the sheep, and had no trouble in finding lice on any of them. To test the killing efficacity of this dip sundry tufts of wool with lice upon them were pat into the mixture, the I time of immersion varying from ten seconds to one second, and in every instance death to the parasites was the result. These tufts were then placed in the sun for four hours, after which they remained in the same Btate. No living lice could be found on any of the sheep after passing through the liquid. The second dip tried was Mesara Tomlinson and Hayward's Lincoln Sheep Dip (poisonous), and some 2000 lousy hoggets were experimented upon with most satisfactory results, the wool being in nowise discolored, a great point of excellence in both Messrs TomKnaon and Hayward's dips, and which cannot be said to belong to many of the dips in. the

market. It is claimed that the " Lincoln" is a most lasting dip in the wool. The last trial was with the Glycerine Dip and Lincoln Sheep Dip (poisonous) mixed together in the proportion of half and half for some 1000 lousy hoggets. The result of this mixture, like the foregoing, was very satisfactory, and the blend is highly recommended by the manufacturers for very lousy sheep, for it has not only the benefit of the glycerine of the former, but also the durability in the wool conferred by the poisonous properties of the latter, so that it is a most perfect dip, and they blend together readily. Cold water (surface creek) was used in the bath throughout, and all the mixtures were easily dissolved, and notwithstanding that some 3500 sheep in all were dipped not a single sheep was killed, which shows the innocuous nature of even the poisonous dip. Mr Douglaa was so satisfied with the result of the dips that he uses them on the whole of his flock this season, and Mr Allan M'Lean, after watching the trials with great interest, and being satisfied with Mr Hayward's dip, which he used last season, has again placed his order with him (Mr Hay ward) for a supply for this year's dipping at his Gisborne run. Several more of Mr Hayward's last year's clients have evinced their satisfaction in the same practical manner, for they had no fault whatever to find with the dip, but, on the other hand, they found themselves with the heaviest fleeces they had ever grown, and which were in such a condition as to realise the highest prices. We subjoin the terms of Mr Hayward's trial, which we published when the competition was invited. Singularly enough, not one competitor put in an appearance against him. Whether it was owing to their knowledge that Mr Hay ward has now such weapons in his hands as to eclipse the previons trials we know not, but from what we saw and from what we gathered from the judges, Mr Hugh Campbell, Mr Douglas, and Mr Hayes (all of whom are users of the dip), no better results could possibly have been obtained. All the sheep will be duly examined again, and reported upon by the judges according to the terms o£ trial, and the condition of the wool will also be taken into consideration, which Messrs Tomlinson and Hayward pay special attention to in the manufacture of their dips, hence the absence of staining, and the beautiful state in which the wool is always left by the use of their dips. Much ia being said about the cost of sheep dips, and many sheepowners buy the cheapest regardless of the quality of the chemicals used in their manufacture, hence there ia so much discoloration in the wool, caused by the common chemicals in such mixtures. The prices for mixing 1000 gallons of liquid of Messrs Tomlinson and Hayward's dips, which are made of refined chemicals only, run out as fullows : — 1. The Glycerine Dip, £4 7s 6d. 2. The Glycerine and Lincoln Dips, in proportions of half and half, £3 18s 9d. 3. The Lincoln Dip (poisonous), £3 10s. All the gentlemen who visited the trials were much pleased with them, and the day being fine a most enjoyable time was passed, until the evening train, which stopped at the dip, conveyed them to their several destinations. The following are the conditions of the competition invited by Mr Hayward : — Ist. — Any maker of sheep dip, or his agent, will be allowed to compete on paying his own expenses and finding sheep. 2nd. — Lousy sheep to be selected for the trial. 3rd.— Three or four practical sheepf armers, in nowise interested in the sale of a Bheep dip, to be the judges. 4th. — Hie judges to be present at the time of dipping, as per H.B.A. and P. Society's trials. sth. — The judges to examine the sheep one month after dipping, same as H.B.A. and P. Society. 6th.— Lousy sheep then [to be put among the dipped ones. 7th. — The judges then to examine the sheep Bis weeks afterwards and report as to the condition of the several sheep and the wool thereon. Bth. — The weight of fleece at shearing time to be taken note of by the owners of the sheep and compared with previous year's clip. 9th. — Samples of the wool will be sent to Bradford manufacturers and users (not to woolbrokers, as H.B.A. and P. Society) for a report from them thereon.