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Show 8 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONEB OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. compare favorably with, that done by the whites, and that generally they use up-to-date methods in seeding and harvesting crops. The Indians at the Pima Agency, Ariz., have improved their methods of farming during the last year, and the wheat harvest is fully 50 per cent greater than ever before. Part of this improvement is due to the instruction given them by the additional farmer and part to their own increasing industry. The Indians enrolled at the Pala Agency are making rapid strides in agricultural work. Their crops were bountiful, the harvest being much more than was necessary for tbeirown subsistence, and the present year.promises still better results. As the available land is limited, a crop of barley is sown in January or February and harvested for hay'in May or June, and then corn and other crops are planted and brought to maturity by careful cultivation and irrigation. With the object of providing forage for cattle during the dry season, an experiment with spineless cactus was undertaken. Sixty-four cub tings were obtained fromDr. David GrSeths, assistant agriculturist at.Chico, Cal. Sixty had made gratifying growth, but the dry season was not advanced far enough to warrant a statement as to the success of the undertaking. Farming interests have been advanced also at the Otoe Agency, Okla. A number ofthe Indians have done exceptionally well in cul-tivating their crops, some of the fields being equal to any in that locality. - The planting of fruit trees, shade trees, alfalfa, and th'e building of good fences. were encouraging, and there was a desire shown on the part.of many ta improve their property in every way. The superintendent believes that these Indians can be entirely self-supporting in a few years if they receive the necessary assistance. Although they own but little stock, more of them are beginning to take aa interest in stock raising, and are attempting to raise corn for forage. The superintendent of the Piute Indians at the Nevada Agency writes: The progress of the Piute Indianns under my charge bas also been gratifying in the 6xtreme. Every Indian for whom I have been able to secure land with water is working, and their efforts &re productive of good crops, the best ever porn upon this res?rvation. Every able-bodied Indian is self-supporting. In fact, there are no loafers on the reae~ation. * * * With additions1 -gating facilities, so that 2,000 acres more land can be irrigated and the Indians at Wadsworth as well as t h m at outlying bWn8 can be furnished land, the entire band of Piutes belonging to the Nevada Agency could awn he self-supporting. With .the additional irrigating canal finished, then the Indians 8hould eecure their allotments. When that event takes place, the Indian will come to his own in Nevada. At Martinez Reservation the development of water will enable the Indians to put under culbivation about 300 acres of additional land, |
