28 RANCHING IN THE CANADIAN WEST 



word of advice in regard to not trusting too implicitly 

 the commercial integrity of the greater majority 

 of American dealers, would not be out of place, or, 

 I hope, thrown away. Verbum sat sapienti. 



Before turning your beasts out upon the prairie, 

 it is necessary to apply to the Minister of Agricul- 

 ture for your district for a brand which is registered 

 to your name in the books of the department, on 

 payment of a fee of $1. To save time, it would be 

 as well to do this during your stay at the rancher's 

 with whom you are working, so as to have your 

 branding-irons made by a blacksmith in readiness 

 for your newly purchased bunch. 



As regards the latter, it is an excellent plan, while 

 working out, " learning the ropes " (so to speak), to 

 buy a calf or two every now and then as opportunity 

 serves, where you see a chance of picking up a few 

 good yearlings at a reasonable figure. These can 

 be branded with your own irons, and allowed to 

 run with your employer's beasts, being gathered in 

 with his own at the next round-up. 



Cattle. 



Where their means allow I would strongly urge 

 the purchase of range stock, for those starting in the 

 cattle business, as being hardier and better able 



