. A complete geography. FiG. scene during a round-up, when great numbers of cattle are bunched together. ing. Following is a description of ranch life in western NorthDakota, which much resembles such life in other states : — There is little water anywhere else than in the widely separated streams;and there are almost no trees except upon their banks. As the ranchmanmust have both water and timber, he locates his house (Fig. 126), with itsfew stockades or corrals, and sheds, within easy reach of these there is no neighbor within several miles, it is all the better, tor his
. A complete geography. FiG. scene during a round-up, when great numbers of cattle are bunched together. ing. Following is a description of ranch life in western NorthDakota, which much resembles such life in other states : — There is little water anywhere else than in the widely separated streams;and there are almost no trees except upon their banks. As the ranchmanmust have both water and timber, he locates his house (Fig. 126), with itsfew stockades or corrals, and sheds, within easy reach of these there is no neighbor within several miles, it is all the better, tor hiscattle are then more certain of abundant grass. Few fences are built, partly because it is necessary for the cactle toroam about at will in their search for food. The bunch grass, upon whichthey feed is so scattered that they must walk a long distance each dayto find enough to eat. A single ranchman may own from ten to twenty CENTRAL STATES 129. thousand liead, and yet they are all allowed to wander about upon publicland, called the range. Usually they keep within a distance of thirtymiles of the ranch house; but sometimes they stray one or two hundredmiles away. Twice a year there is a general collection, or round-up (Fig. 127), ofcattle, — the first round-up occurring in May or June, and the other earlyin the fall. One object of the first is to find the calves that have beenborn during the winter. Since there are few fences, cattle belonging to ranches which areeven a hundred miles apart become mixed during the winter, and those ina large herd may belong to a scoreof different ranchmen. Eachcattleman has a certain mark, orbrand (Fig. 128), such as a letter,a cross, a horseshoe, or someother device, which must beburnt into the side of everycow; and that is the sole markof ownership. A round-up, which lasts sev- Fig. 128. eral weeks, is planned by a num- Picture showing the mother with her brand, a calfber of ranchmen toget
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectgeograp, bookyear1902
