Canadian Agriculture. 
297 
special articles in a cow-bov's outfit are : a California saddle 
with tapaderos (fittings) complete, a rifle on saddle, a pair of 
schapps (leather leggings), a pair of Mexican spurs, an overcoat, 
and a cow-boy hat or soft sombrero. The following extract is 
from an article on Stofk-raising in the North-West, which 
appeared in the Toronto ' Week ' last October : — • 
" The method of working the cattle-ranches is similar to that in vogue in 
the Western States and territories. Although each owner has his own lease, 
by mutual consent ' free-ranging ' practically prevails ; and it by no means 
follows that the lessee has all or even the majority of his cattle on his own 
lease. The cattle, of course all branded, roam freely about the country. The 
large cattle companies employ constantly from six to ten ' cowboys,' with an 
experienced foreman, and a local manager, besides additional hands during 
hay-making, ' round-up ' &c. A large band of horses is also necessary — say 
an average of five or six head to each cow-boy, besides horses for team work 
and general purposes. Smaller owners — with herds under 1000 head — 
naturally manage with much greater economy. Two or three good practical 
men, with from twenty to thirty horses, can do all the work alwut the ranch 
and management of the cattle, with the occasional a.ssistance of an extra hand 
or two. 
" The stockmen of Alberta have formed a powerful association, known as 
the ' South Western Stock Association,' for the protection and advancement of 
their interests. This association has the management of the annual ' general 
round up,' which usually begins in May and lasts for about sis weeks. All 
the stockmen in the country send representatives in proportion to the number 
of their herd, and each ' cowboy ' brings with him from four to six horses. It 
can be imagined that, with 60 men in camp, and a band of over 300 horses, 
the scenes that occur are often lively and sometimes exciting. In the autumn, 
local ' round-ups ' in the different stock districts are held for the purpose of 
branding the summer calves, which by the following spring would ftrobably 
have left their mothers, becoming ' no man's cattle,' or as they are technically 
termed, mavericks. 
" The life of the rancher and cowboy is at times a hard one — but withal, 
picturesque and somewhat romantic. It is true he almost lives in the saddle, 
but he rides over a splendid country, and enjoys (if he has the faculty) mag- 
nificent scenery. The numerous streams and rivers abound in trout, and 
prairie-chicken, grouse, ducks, and geese, afford abundance of game for the gun. 
His life has plenty of exciting variety and some danger. There are few mor& 
interesting sights than the cowboys at work on their well-trained, sagacious 
ponies, ' cutting out' cattle from an immense herd, frightened and bellowing, 
and only kept from a general stampede by the mere continually riding round 
them. Again, a herd crossing one of our large rapid rivers is a grand spectacle. 
One or two old steers, perhaps, wade in up to their knees, and then becoming 
susjjicious, attempt to break back. But the main body of the herd presses on 
them, driven by a dozen cowboys, yelling and cracking their whips, in a 
cloud of dust behind and at their sides. The leaders are forced into deep 
water, and soon have to swim, striking out boldly for the farther shore ; the 
others follow, while the cowboys ride into the current to ' keep them a'goin'.' 
Last of all come the calves, with the rest of the cowboys riding behind. But 
by this time the leaders are climbing out on the opposite bank, and the main 
body is drifting down stream in a confused mass. A couple of men gallop 
down the bank, plunge into the river, and head them up stream again, and in 
a few minutes the whole band, calves and all, are crossed in safety." 
