stock from Texas and
Sonora. This undesirable stock was sold at the first opportunity, and
the range re-stocked by an improved grade of Durham cattle. The change
was a long stride in the direction of improvement, but, later on,
another change was made to Herefords, and during recent years only
whitefaces have been bred upon the ranch.

Col. Hooker has a strong personality, holds decided opinions and
believes in progress and improvement. He has spent much time and money
in experimental work, and his success has demonstrated the wisdom of
his course. Just such men are needed in every new country to develop
its resources and prove its worth.

He saw that the primitive methods of ranching then in vogue must be
improved, and began to prepare for the change which was coming. What
he predicted came to pass, and the days of large herds on the open
range are numbered.

Many of them have already been sold or divided up, and it is a question
Of only a short time when the rest will meet the same fate.

When this is done there may be no fewer cattle than there are now but
they will be bunched in smaller herds and better cared for. Scrubs of
any kind are always undesirable, since it has been proved that quality
is more profitable than quantity. A small herd is more easily handled,
and there is less danger of loss from straying or stealing.

The common method of running cattle on the open range is reckless and
wasteful in the extreme and entirely inexcusable. The cattle are
simply turned loose to rustle for themselves. No provision whatever is
made for their welfare, except that they are given the freedom of the
range to find water, if they can, and grass that often affords them
only scant picking.

Under the new regime the cattle are carefully fed and watered, if need
be in a fenced enclosure, that not only gives the cattle humane
treatment but also makes money for the owner. The men are instructed
to bring in every sick or weak animal found on the range and put it
into a corral or pasture, where it is nursed back to life. If an
orphan calf is found that is in danger of starving it is picked up,
carried home and fed. On the average ranch foundlings and weaklings
get no attention whatever, but are left in their misery to pine away
and perish from neglect. The profit of caring for the weak and sick
animals on the Sierra Bonita ranch amounts to a large sum every year,
which the owner thinks is worth saving.

Anoth