180 AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. [May, 
fCOPYF.IGIIT SECURED.] 
■Drawn and Engraved for the American Agriculturist. 
BRANDING CATT 
the floor below and the beams above, having 
them in rows a little scant, 4 feet apart, and 5 
or G feet apart in the row. Into the notches, 
slide slips of an inch or incli-and-quarter stuff, 
and lay on these laths at distances above given. 
When the season is closed, all can be readily 
removed and stored for future use. By using 
artificial heat, the sage may be dried in two or 
three days, but this does not make so good an 
article as that which dries in the course of two 
or three weeks; the cooler the weather the 
handsomer the appearance of the crop when 
dried. A mass of green sage which makes a 
cord by measure when trod in green, will weigh 
about 250 lbs. when dry. Two tons, when dry, 
are considered a good crop per acre. To market 
the crop, have strong tow bags measuring 7x3 
feet, put a hoop in the mouth to keep it open, and 
secure firmly to a trap-door; fill in the sage and 
i then tread it down as compactly as possible. A 
! bag of these dimensions will hold 150 lbs. of 
dried sage. The price varies with different 
seasons, depending of course on the quantity 
grown, from 8 to 35 cents per lb.; averaging 
for the past twelve years in the Boston market, 
12 l \i cents. Sage is a very reliable crop when 
once up, it being not so much affected by drouth 
L E.— From a Sketch by E. Jump.- 
as root crops. After a rain it recovers from 
its check, and starts a fresh growth immediately 
o t —al ^ gi i » <g » " 
Branding Cattle. 
In Mexico, as well as in parts of California 
and Texas—States that were formerly Spanisli- 
American, cattle raising is an important branch 
of industry. The cattle are nearly wild, live in 
immense herds, and have an extensive range. 
The writer has traveled a whole day to 
cross the boundaries of a single hacienda in 
Northern Mexico. The proprietorship of cattle 
as well as horses is established by the presence 
of the brand of the owner upon the animals. 
Many are familiar with this method of marking 
horses and mules, as it is practised upon those 
belonging to the army. The brand may be the 
initials of the owner, but it is quite as often some 
arbitrary sign which, when adopted, is duly 
recorded in the books of the Alcalde—the town 
records. The presence of one’s mark upon 
an animal is proof of ownership, and if lie can 
show a brand duly recorded, corresponding 
with that on the animal, he can take possession 
of it in spite of any bills of sale that the pre¬ 
sent holder may show as evidence that he 
came legally by it. When a'n animal is sold, 
the seller puts on the venta brand, which is usu¬ 
ally the same one reversed, and the purchaser 
then marks the animal with his own brand. 
Horses which have changed hands frequently, 
are singularly scarred, the results of many 
brandings. Cattle on the large estates are driven 
up once a year for branding, and the occasion 
is one of great festivity, as the neighbors come 
to enjoy the excitement and to lend their aid. 
It affords the young men a fine opportunity to 
show their skill in the use of the lasso. The 
animals are corralled, or driven into an inclo¬ 
sure and let out, a few at a time. The wild 
beasts set off at full speed and are pursued by 
the horsemen who capture them with the lasso. 
The chase is often a long and exciting one, and 
it often happens that the animal must be caught 
by both the horns and a hind foot before it is 
brought to terms. At the time of branding, 
those having marks which show that they be¬ 
long to other parties, are separated from the 
others, and all that are without marks are brand¬ 
ed by the use of the hot iron. On large estates 
the festival lasts for several days, and there 
is feasting, with music and dancing at night. 
