2 RANCHING IN THE CANADIAN WEST 



"blouses " (short work-jaokets), which you can pro- 

 cure in any town on the other side for SI (4s. 2d.) to 

 $1£ each, and which will last for a long time with the 

 roughest work. As many pairs of boots of the heavy 

 working order as you care to take with you will 

 be useful, for I have so often found the Canadian 

 leather defective and the workmanship of the boots 

 imperfect that this would really pay you. Some of 

 them should be a size or so too large, in order to 

 allow of three or four thick socks being worn. Thick 

 woollen underwear for winter use, both vests and 

 pants, is imperative if you wish to avoid discomfort 

 from cold. Strong dark grey flannel shirts, with 

 tennis collars, are the most serviceable sort for work- 

 ing wear, with a few lighter ones, both in colour and 

 texture, for the hayfield in summer, when it is very 

 hot. A fur coat or jacket, lined with sheep-skin, 

 will be a grateful addition to your kit when the 

 thermometer is at 30° below zero. These should 

 be bought in Montreal or some large eastern town on 

 your way up country, where the selection is larger 

 and the prices are more moderate than in the small 

 towns farther west. A good coat (with fur worn 

 outside) would cost anything between $30 and $100, 

 according to quality, and a strong canvas jacket 

 lined with sheep-skin about $6£. Three or four 

 good warm woollen blankets are absolutely necessary, 



