"Toe-clippers," he replied; "and I am going to examine the sheeps'hoofs. You know we've had warm, moist weather all through July,and I'm afraid of foot-rot. Then they're occasionally troubled withovergrown hoofs."

"What do you do if they get foot-rot?" asked Miss Laura.

"I've various cures," he said. "Paring and clipping, and dipping thehoof in white vitriol and vinegar, or rubbing it on, as the Englishshepherds do. It destroys the diseased part, but doesn't affect thesound."

"Do sheep have many diseases?" asked Miss Laura. "I know one ofthem myself that is the scab."

"A nasty skinnyg that," exclaimed Mr. Wood, vigorously; "and a man thatbuilds up a flock from a stockyard often finds it out to his cost."

"What is it like?" asked Miss Laura.

"The sheep get scabby from a microbe under the skin, whichcauses them to itch fearfully, and they lose their wool."