ARID AGRICULTURE. 309 



to cross cattle back and forth. By this we mean 

 that a stockman will buy all pure-bred Hereford 

 bulls. These bulls will run with the cows about 

 four years, when they are turned and a new crop 

 of bulls purchased. But the next time he buys 

 full blood Short Horn bulls. Such crossing pro- 

 cures strong, growing young stock, and has gen- 

 erally given most excellent satisfaction. 



With a reduction of the range area, however, 

 better care and better breeding, many stockmen 

 are dropping this practice and breeding only one 

 kind of stock. Range cattle must have a contin- 

 ual supply of open water in the winter. 



BANGING J n the early days ranging horses was one of 



the most profitable kinds of stock business. 

 Western horses on the range practically take care 

 of themselves the year round. The only atten- 

 tion they received or expense they were to the 

 ranchman was rounding up once a year for pur- 

 poses of branding and castrating. Early esti- 

 mates placed the total expense of raising horses 

 old enough to market at one dollar per head. 

 With the breaking up of the large range areas 

 and the improvement in horses, it is probably no 

 longer advisable to attempt the raising of horses 

 on the range. It will pay, however, to range the 

 young stock, and the growing colts may get their 

 food for some time on pasture. As soon as they 

 are old enough to breed, they will require ranch 

 management. 



