Homesteading 



operation for the individual, and takes time ; 

 moreover, many still are without stock, and so 

 there may be some difference of opinion as to 

 changing the system. 



Such was the condition of things that made 

 Bob undertake a winter journey to try to find 

 a suitable location on which to establish a small 

 ranch to accommodate his growing bunch of 

 stock and horses. The search was not altogether 

 a success, but the following extract from his letter 

 may prove of interest : 



" Here goes for some account of our doings up 



north. We, H B and I, were looking for 



a place that would be suitably big to let a bunch 

 of cattle summer feed, and also where there would 

 be lots of hay. These conditions were easy 

 to find, but for my purposes the place must also 

 be within easy distance of railroad, and it must 

 be possible, by a mile or so of fencing, to ensure 

 that the cattle cannot stray in summer. Now, 

 then, I will try to describe some of our trip. The 



first day we made C 's, and slept there ; the 



next we made a mistake in our trail, owing to 

 the weather being thick, and so lost several hours. 

 This meant we had to camp in the bush. 



" In seeking a camp there are three things that 

 we look for — shelter, dry wood, and water for 

 the horses. The first night was windy and 



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