The Mineral argus., 1886-06-10

fCor. Pueblo Col. Livestock Review.l
+ Where is the inventor that shall reap
"A golden harvest of dollars and cents,
10y giving us something in the place of
the branding iron. Ii some genius will
only devise dye that will be eyerlast-
ing and yet not injure the skin beneath,
he can make his own price for the
payment. Stockmen, tanners and
leather workers will rise up and call
him blessed. The present method il
bad. but losing stock is worse, and SO
of two evils we must chose the least,
and until something better is offered,
will the smell of singcd hair mingle
sweetly every year with the woody
mavericks dulcet below. Branding is
IL necessity and too often it is made a
cruelty 10y the ignorance IF those who
perform it. When the blest millennium
comes, let us hope it will bring big
supply Of common sense along and
distribute it freely SO that nobody will
have any excuse then for not doing at
least half right. Every season sees
hundreds of poor, MANNED, scorched
and blotched calves turned on to the
range, that look like map Of Mexico.
all cookies aud cacti. In branding, if
the creature is tied properly, there need
be no excuse for making u bad Job.
The irons. it should he remembered.
must he hot. Green hands should be
especially watched about this, until
they learn that "a very hot iron is really
far less painful to the animal than one
only moderately SO. Experience will
soon enable person to tell Just how
long the iron should he held on the
hide to attain the best results. Too
short II time simply makes hair brand
that shows nicely until shedding comes
Too long will cause "burn sore," that
will infallibly botch. The iron should
he just so hot, that u firm, quick pres
sure, and straight withdrawal will leave
a clean cut, clearly marked imprint on
the hide. When properly done there
is very little pain attending it, as any
one may see by watching calf and
seeing how little it struggles. When
improperly handled, the branding iron
may become veritable instrument of
torture, that is altogether unworthy of
Aside from the humane side, it is a
question involving dollars and cents.
l have followed the trail good many
years. IItul Ohi 4MtNlCO u w yOmlnY,
from California to Texas, and yet with
all the many brands l have seen and
know often have to spend precious
time, perhaps shave the hair from it,
before being able to tell what some
doubtful case is. My experience is
that of hundreds of others, repeated
thousands Of times. The Mormon
church boasts Of never having a blurred
or indistinct brand on one of its thous-
ands of cattle that run the range. How
many stucknen stop to think how
much that lma>t means. 1t means
prompt identification of stolen or
estrayed stock, less trouble and fewer |
canSes for disputes on roundups, rapid |
placing Of rightful ownership, to say
nothing %: time, wages and horse-fiesh |
saved. As regards the share of iron |
used. tina, concerns more especially |
each individual fancy. The common
straight bar can he used in more |
variety AMI is handler on that account,
but it also can Ice more readily trans
formed into some other brand, which is
a disadvantage, Ito honest mem. Take |
a little pains to make your brand
|egible and see how much pains it will
save. Take little care and trouble in |
The beginning and you will be aston
ished to find how much care and |
trouble it will save you by and by.