282 RESOURCES OP CALIFORNIA. 



history of its ownership. Many of the brands are well known 

 to the rancheros over a large portion of the State ; and by 

 looking at the animal, they will tell where it was born, and 

 who have owned it at different times. The hips and shoulders 

 on botli sides are often covered with brands. Sometimes the 

 brands grow with the animals ; in other cases they remain 

 nearly of their original size. A brand well burned into the 

 skin is perceptible as long as the animal lives, though it grows 

 less and less distinct with the advance of years. 



In the fall there is another season of rodeos, to brand such 

 calves as may have escaped notice at the spring rodeos, or 

 may have been too small to be branded. 



The rancheros sometimes have a mark in addition to their 

 brand, such as slitting the ear or cutting a notch in the dew- 

 lap. A drawing of the mark must be deposited in the county 

 recorder's office. It is contrary to law to cut off the end of 

 the ear, or to cut it on both sides so as to bring it to a point ; 

 for those modes of marking would give opportunities to cut 

 away the marks of other people. The bull-calves are usually 

 altered at the rodeos, as well as branded and marked. The 

 cattle on many ranches are touched only twice in their lives 

 by the hand of man first, when they are branded ; and next, 

 when they are slaughtered. 



202. Early Maturity. The cows calve almost invariably 

 before they'are two years old, frequently before they are eight- 

 een months, and sometimes before fourteen months. They 

 generally arrive at maternity a year sooner than in the 

 Atlantic States. The Spanish rancheros have eight or ten 

 bulls to a hundred cows ; the Americans usually four or five. 

 The calves suckle from six to ten months : that is, from Janu- 

 ary or February, when they are born, until November, when 

 the pasturage is very scanty. The Spanish cows have small 

 udders, and yield little milk ; and notwithstanding their great 

 number in the country, butter, milk, and cheese were very 

 rarely seen on the table previous to the coming of the Ameri- 



