128 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



Description Of a Cattle Ranch. The following interesting description of cattle 

 herding is from the pen of a practical herder in Kansas: 



&quot; It is the early dawn of a May day in western Kansas. A sea of rolling billows of 

 land extends in every direction to the utmost reach of the vision. The plains are covered 

 with a rich growth of blue joint and buffalo grass. A herd of cattle is sleeping in the corral 

 by the creek cows, two-year-olds, yearlings, and calves. A few ponies are picketed with 

 long ropes on the prairie. A couple of saddles, blankets, and bridles hang on pegs by the 

 corral bars. The scene is eminently peaceful. Occasionally a cow rises, and walking to 

 the salt barrel gently licks the salt, then licks her nose, as though she had serious thoughts 

 of pickling it, so as to insure its keeping over summer. But on reflection she concludes it 

 will keep this season at any rate, and walks over to the stretching posts and there stands 

 rubbing her neck up and down. 



Suddenly stopping she gazes, open-eyed, at a wolf, who sits on her haunches some 

 hundred yards from the corral, sitting there pensively, looking at the great amount of fresh 

 meat. After gazing at the wolf until satisfied, the cow lies down again. The deep breathing 

 of the cattle, the morning calls of the meadow larks, the soft music of the wind as it whistles 

 through the short, tender grass, are the only sounds heard. As the east grows red, the 

 occupants of a large dug-out, situated by the bank of a creek, lounge slowly out, and walk to 

 the water, where they drink and wash the latter is a speedy operation, as the herder does 

 not waste time in washing. One goes to feed the ponies corn and saddle them, the other 

 builds a fire and cooks the breakfast. This meal consists of corn-dodgers, or baking-powder 

 biscuit, fried bacon, and strong coffee without milk or sugar. There may be 200 cows in 

 the herd, but none are milked. 



The herders simply exist with as little trouble as possible. As a rule, they do not read, 

 do not think of anything but the cattle. To attend these well is their ambition. After 

 breakfast the bars are taken down, and the cattle string slowly out of the corral. Forming 

 in long lines, they follow the deep, well-worn trails that lead to the feeding grounds. It is a 

 very leisurely march. Now and then an animal drops out of the file, eats a few mouthfuls 

 of grass, but soon drops into file again and resumes marching. On reaching the desired 

 feeding ground, the cattle spread and begin feeding. At about ten o clock they are full, or 

 nearly so; and, in a listless manner, they change front and feed toward the water. Arriving 

 there, the herd drink, stand in the water, and so loaf away an hour. They then lie down, 

 and for two or three hours remain quiet. As the sun gets low, the cattle again spread and 

 feed. As the sun sinks to the horizon, the herders slowly force them to feed toward their 

 corral, and by the time they have fed up to it it is generally dusk. Bars are put up, ponies 

 staked out, supper cooked and eaten, and the herders go to bed. 



In all herds there are a few animals that lead off; that is, they will not remain on your 

 range, but constantly endeavor to lead the herd to pastures new. These animals are 

 generally yellow or black steers; but sometimes cows and heifers are guilty of the trick. Of 

 course, these animals are sold as soon as possible; but, until sold, they are the cause of a vast 

 amount of hard riding. 



The cattle of Texas are not afraid of a man, nor are they afraid of a horse; but they 

 are afraid of a man on a horse. They do not understand, at least do not seem to understand, 

 that a man on horseback is a combination of animals. Apparently they regard the two as 

 one animal, and one that is too powerful for them. To get off a horse in a herd of wild 

 Texas cattle is almost worth a man s life, and an experienced herder will never do it. 



All herds of cattle have a bully among them. There is a boss cow, and she is hated and 

 feared. Of ugly disposition, constantly hooking unoffending cows, greedy in eating, she 

 makes herself generally disagreeable. Or it may be that the bully is a steer; the 

 characteristics of the brute are all the same. The rest of the herd are all afraid of her or 



