CATTLE HERDING. 883 



another to the head; the whip cracked, and off came the hide 

 with a rush. 



To sustain my assertion that I would now take ninety-five 

 per cent of my old herd through the winter, permit me to re- 

 capitulate somewhat. My first move would be to get the whole 

 herd at the earliest possible moment into a stalk pasture, and 

 teach them to eat corn before the first cold spell. When the 

 cold weather came I would cut out all the steers, and corral 

 and feed by themselves. I would either build a small pen for 

 all the bulls in the herd, or tie them up where they could have 

 the best feed and shelter. 



The young cattle should have their quarters also. I could 

 make all these apartments in my old round corral with but 

 little trouble or expense. I would have, as before, the corral 

 protected by a rick of hay on the east, north, and west. The 

 young cattle, bulls, and cows should have sheds of hay, and if 

 possible the steers. I would have a pump and trough so ar- 

 ranged that all the stock could drink without going out of their 

 pens. 



As to feed, I would use no more corn than I did before, ex- 

 cept during storms, when I would double the amount, as little 

 hay could then be fed unless already in the rack. But if my 

 hay supply was ample I would bed thoroughly to keep the cat- 

 tle from direct contact with the frozen earth. To the south of 

 my corral I should have a feeding pen inclosed with barb wire, 

 with a feeding rack of ample length to give room for all. 

 Having made these arrangements, I am confident that one-half the 

 work and the same feed, pluck, and vigilance would take the 

 herd through as nearly entire as I have asserted, and with a 

 most satisfactory difference in the outcome in dollars and cents 

 in favor of the latter mode. 



Herding. If you buy Texas cattle they will be more or 

 less wild at first, according to the way they have been handled, 

 and not a little care and tact will be required to manage them. 

 It will be well for you to hire an old hand for a time, until 

 your cattle get familiar with your corral and with your herd- 

 ground, and until you have cultivated their acquaintance, as you 



