126 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



grounds of the United States contain 1,650,000 square miles, with over a billion acres, and 

 quite a large portion of these lands is being utilized for herding cattle. The quaint, bony, 

 and half-wild descendants of the original Spanish cattle soon overran the fertile plains of 

 Texas and New Mexico, spreading northward to Kansas and the Indian territory. Immense 

 herds of these cattle were formerly driven north into Kansas, where they were herded during 

 the grazing season, and taken from thence to States farther eastward to be fattened in 

 winter, or sold directly to the butcher. At a period still later the plains of Nebraska, Colo 

 rado, Montana, and Wyoming have been used as herding grounds for cattle descended from 

 the Spanish or Texan stock, but improved upon by crossing with the Short-Horn and Here 

 ford breeds, such crossing having wonderfully changed the original characteristics of these 

 breeds. In California these Spanish cattle, which were formerly extensively herded there, 

 have given place to improved breeds. Considerable attention is also paid to the transporta 

 tion and acclimating of well-bred northern cattle into Texas for improving the herds there. 



To illustrate what one man has accomplished in cattle herding, we give a brief mention 

 of one of the pioneers in this business in Colorado, Mr. I. &quot;W. Iliff, commonly known as the 

 Cattle-king of the Plains,&quot; who owned at the time of his death the largest range in the 

 United States. This gentleman was born in Zanesville, Ohio, and entered the business about 

 seventeen years previous to his death, on a small capital, and, by constant accessions of land, 

 finally owned a tract a hundred and fifty miles long, and a herd of cattle numbering 46.000. 

 This ranch was located in Northern Colorado, extending from Julesburgh, on the Union 

 Pacific Railroad, to Greeley, a hundred and fifty-six miles west, its southern boundary being 

 the South Platte River; its northern a rocky bluff south of Lodge Pole Creek, making it 

 nearly in the form of a right-angle triangle. 



The range was divided into thirteen ranches. At each ranch were quarters for a portion 

 of the forty-six men who take care of the entire range, and corrals where the stock was 

 gathered to be branded, and where the horses were kept in winter. The Union Pacific road 

 took out $18,000 worth of supplies every year, and brought away from 12,000 to 14,000 

 head of cattle every season, valued at 26 per head. At the time of the death of Mr. Iliff 

 he had 46,000 head of cattle on the range. The average number of calves was 4,500 a year. 

 The herds require but little care, but graze their own food the year round. When the 

 weather was inclement they sought shelter in Chalk Bluffs, or some of the woody retreats. 

 Generally the grass is sufficient the year round, and it is the best for food when dried. 

 Water is plentifully supplied by Platte River, the Crow, and Little Crow. In severe winters 

 like the last, many cattle die, but the average loss is less than 7-J per cent. 



Mr. Iliff took pains to improve the breed of his stock, and his brand, which consisted of 

 a monogram of his initials, was well known in Europe, whence a great deal of his stock, 

 consisting of Herefords, Utahs, and Short-Horns, was shipped. During the seven years of 

 his ownership of this range, Mr. Iliff shipped over 200,000 head of cattle to the East. Some 

 of these were sent to New York and Philadelphia as an experiment, but the market finally 

 settled in Chicago, 700 miles distant. Mr. Iliff considered it a poor success if in any year 

 he did not ship 12,000 or 14,000 head of cattle from his ranch. 



Essentials in Cattle Herding. As generally managed, little or no provision is 

 made for feeding in winter during extended drouths in some sections or severe storms in 

 others; hence, great loss has been sustained by vast numbers dying from lack of food and 

 exposure, deep snows and severe weather occasionally being encountered in the more 

 northern of the grazing regions. Immense losses were sustained during the winter of 1881 

 and 1883 from the latter cause, which might have been obviated by a little forethought in 

 providing hay for feeding, and also shelter during such storms. There should also be free 

 access to water for the herd, and a plenty of range accessible to it. 



In many portions running streams are rare, and the country is subject to extreme drouth; 



