SHEEP DIP TRIALS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 8149, 21 April 1887, Page 6

SHEEP DIP TRIALS.

A public trial of the principal sheep dipping compounds now being sold in the Colony, was held on April 19 and 20, at Messrs Henderson and M‘heath's dip at Spreydon. The proceedings were under the supervision of a Committee of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, consisting of Mr John Deans, President ; Mr John Ferguson, Vice-President; Mr W. Boag. ex-President; and Messrs W, Henderson, J. Gammack, H. Overton, and H. M'llwraith; with Messrs Reginald Foster and E. T. Holderness (the latter representing Mr P. B, Boulton, Chief Inspector), as experts. Mr M'llwraith was the only member of the Committee who was absent. The dip used for the trials is of concrete, with about 22yds swim, which is rather too short for sheep at this season of the year, but the sheep dipped were well crutched under, and thoroughly saturated with the fluid ined, and each lob was given the full time stated in the instructions for use supplied with the dipping compositions. The sheep were supplied by Mr Boag, and, as might be expected, were free from lice, and with only an occasional tick. Some of the sheep dip agents present objected that the absence of vermin did not afford a fair trial, but the dipping was ultimately proceeded with, on the understanding that each dip is to be tried on infested sheep as soon as they can be obtained. The sheep were three-quarter bred and half-bred wethers, in about equal numbers, and thirteen of the former and twelve of the latter were dipped in each mixture. The weather was most favourable, a moderate nor’wester drying the sheep very quickly after their emerging from the dip, and so giving every chance for the effects to be permanent. A bath of 700 gallons was made for each trial. Messrs Henderson and M'Beath gave every assistance, and lent their practised men to do the dipping. There was not a large attendance, the majority being those directly interested, who were driven out and home by Mr Delamain. Mr John Ferguson entertained the judges and visitors to lunch at his beautiful residence near by. Lots having been drawn for the order of trial, a commencement was made with Messrs Murton and White’s Hawke’s Bay Dip, which is in liquid form. This compound is a great advance in form on any other dip, and indeed is a chemical triumph, inasmuch as in it its manufacturers have succeeded in keeping arsenic in absolute solution, a thing generally considered impossible. Carbolic acid and glycerine are also component parts of this dip, but no soda nor sulphur. The requisite quantity of the concentrated liquid namely, 1 gallon to 100 gallons water—was simply poured from the drums into the dip, slightly stirred, and the sheep at once run in. They were given 30sec swim, and came out well; and neither scum nor sediment appeared in the mixture. The price is 5s 6d per gallon. The New Zealand Drug Company’s Zealandia Dip was second. It is described as non-poisonous, but the effluvium which was emitted during the mixing of the liquid with cold water previous to pouring it into the dip suggested bisulphide of carbon. One to one hundred, was the strength used, and the sheep were given 45sec bath, and could barely manage to scramble up the rather steep exit from the dip, and it was seme time before they recovered. The price is 5s 6d to 6s 3d per gallon. M'Dougall’s Non-poisonous Dip was third. The liquid mixed in cold water, but did not mix well, and a nasty scum rose on the dip. 'the proportion was Ito 100, and the price per gallon 5s 6d. Hatch’s Colonial Dip, shown by Messrs James Wilkin and Co., was fourth. It is liquid, but contained many aolidlumps, and did not mix very well in the cold water with which it was diluted before being added to the bath. There was a very thick scum and sediment, and the sheep did not look particularly well after dipping. They were given 30seo. The strength was one to fifty, and the price per gallon 4s 6d. Little’s (liquid) Dip, shown by Messrs E. Dombrain and Sons, mixed easily in cold water, and the sheep came out nicely after 30sec immersion. Strength, 1 to 50. Price, 5s Gd per gallon. Thomas’ Dip (Messrs Miles and Co., agents) was a thick paste, and took some time to mix in cold water, 11b dip was used to 12gals water, and the sheep looked very well after 45sec bath. Too great a proportion of this dip was mixed, but the error was discovered before the sheep were dipped, and the bath reduced to the proper strength by the addition of water. Price, £5 per drum of 1201 b. Brooke's Perfect Dip was'-seventh, and was tried ‘ yesterday. It is a liquid costing 7s per gallon, Igal. to each lOOgal. water being used. It mixed freely in cold water, but threw up a great deal of soapy froth in the bath, but no sediment. The sheep left the bath in 30sec, almost as if hot-water-washed, but without any damage. Cooper’s Dipping Powder (Messrs Lake and Evans, Canterbury agents), was last, a 101 b packet costing about 7s being used to each lOOgala water. It mixed easily in cold water, but there was a considerable sediment when the bath was not kept busy. The agents claim that this undissolved powder is intended to remain in the fleece of the sheep as an active disinfecting principle. The sheep looked well after having been given 45sec dipping. Each dipper’s lot of sheep were differently earmarked, and twenty-five undipped sheep with a distinct earmark were put with them. The whole, as well as those which are yet to be experimented upon, will be paddocked by Mr Boag at Burnside, so that they can be examined at different periods between now and shearing time, and the effects of the various specifics noted. It is also intended that the wool shall be reported upon both in the greasy and scoured state, and afterwards dyed, so as to carry the whole experiments to a final point.