66 RANCHING IN THE CANADIAN WEST 



their own ranch-mates. As a rule the calves (at 

 a spring round-up) are not branded until they and 

 their mothers have arrived at their respective homes. 

 Branding would naturally play no part in a fall 

 round-up, which is usually devoted solely to the 

 gathering in of cattle for beef. 



It is advisable to thoroughly know the charac- 

 teristics and powers of endurance of each one of your 

 " string " of horses on a round-up, and, if it can be 

 avoided, do not employ strange ones, borrowed, 

 may be, from a kindly rancher, as you never can be 

 sure how any one of them wiU act under certain 

 contingencies, and this may lead you iato some 

 awkward, not to say dangerous, predicaments. 

 Saddling at 4.30 a.m. with a frozen numna and 

 saddle, for instance, is a severe test to any horse, 

 and the rider is liable to be suddenly, and most 

 unexpectedly, bucked off. 



The man who feels disinclined to ride on the round- 

 up, or send a representative to do so for him, can, 

 if he likes, and is a subscriber to the local Stock 

 Association, get his bunch collected and driven into 

 his own corral by payment of a dollar per head. This 

 may pay a man with a very small bunch, where the 

 wages of a deputy to ride for him have to be taken 

 into consideration, but would spell ruination to him 

 with a large one. 



