56 RANCHING IN THE CANADIAN WEST 



throughout the settled parts of the Dominion, but 

 actually each individual is the best judge as to when 

 the grass in his own district is ripe for the machine, 

 and he mows it at the time most convenient to 

 himself, usually early in July, but the years vary 

 according to the severity of the previous winter and 

 other causes. 



As already pointed out, the unappropriated parts 

 of the prairie are common to all settlers alike, 

 therefore each one has a wide choice to select from 

 in the matter of hay. As a rule a man chooses 

 his square mile of country, hitches up his team to 

 the mower, goes ahead, and cuts the necessary 

 quantity according to the size of his bunch or flock, 

 which is carted to the place deemed most convenient 

 for building the stack (or stacks). 



According to the number of men and horses em- 

 ployed in the operation of harvesting the crop, so 

 the modus operandi will differ. We will presume 

 that two men, each in charge of a team of two 

 work-horses, are engaged in the first place, as this 

 little work's primary object is to be of some slight 

 assistance to the small man. It would be beyond 

 the task of one, I am afraid, as you will readily see 

 later. 



When the required square patch has been mown 

 byjvvorking round the four sides of the square and 



