Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1899-11-04
YOUR HEALTH.
1t is worth all that the improvements

but is worth all that the improvements
have cost.
In an average year the natural
water supply of the ranch is sufficient
for all purposes, but to guard against
a possible shortage in a season of
drought. water is brought from the
mountains in bitches and stored in res
ervoirs to be used when needed for
watering the cattle and irrigating the
fields. The effect of water upon the
desert soil is magical. and though the
earth is parched and brown the moist
land of the cienega is perennially green
with fields of waving grass and grain.
The owner has acquired by location
and purchase title to several thousand
acres of land. all of which is under
fence and much of it highly cultivated.
1t consists of a strip of land one mile
wide and ten miles long, which is not
only valuable because of it's fertility
but has an additional value by being
the key TO an immense open range
which it controls. Good grazing is
found all over the valley and far up
into the adjacent mountains. which
supports numerous herds of horses
and cattle.
Since he has demonstrated by actual
eXperiert the advantages of fenced
pastures in connection with an open
range. others have followed his exam
pie, and fenced pastures are now found
on every ranch, where a few years ago
not a panel of any kind of fence ex-
J listed.
The original herd of the Sierra Boni-
ia Ranch consisted of native scrub
stock from the ranges of Texas and
Sonora. which were replaced at the
earliest opportunity by grade and thor
oughbred Durham cattle. This change
greatly improved the quality of the
herd. but even they were rot good
enough, and were replaced later on by
Herefords. which proved to be entirely
satisfactory. and in recent years only
Whitefaces have been on the ranch.
The Hereford cattle are unquestiona-
bly, a superior range cattle. and one
just suited to the climate and environ
ments Of the southwestern range.
Their Introduction mas decidedly bene-
flied the range cattle industry and to-
day they command the top price in
/ the market.
Ills men are instructed to bring in
( every sick or weak animal found on
+ the range. and put it into pasture
where II is nu-Sed back TO life. If an
orphan calf is found which is in DANCE
o. starving it is brought home and fed.
+ On the acreage. ranch foUndlings and
( V-eaklings receive no attention what
, ever. but are left in their distress to
pine away and perish through neglect.
The profit Of taking care of the weak
and sick animals or the Sierra Bonita
Ranch amounts to 4 large sum ever
! year, which Co. Hooker thinks is
I worth saving.
/ There is always a separate herd OF
milk cows in charge of a man whose
I duty it is to keep the house supplied
with fresh butter and milk. None of
/ the milk ever goes to waste and when
there is a surplus it is fed to the calves.
/ pigs and poultry.
During the branding season the work
( is all done in corrals instead. as for
r1erly. out on the open range. The
/ calves. after they are branded, are put
| into a pasture by themselves and
weaned. 1t prevents the thin weak
COW from being dragged to death by a
big sucking calf. as is sometimes done