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Show REPORT OF DOMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFi4IRS. 81 their surplus crops .would be disposed of for them at certain fixed prices. I t is not expected that the Sioux as a whole ever will make success-ful farmers, but it seemed worth while to make the experiment of financing the farming operations of a few allottees from which others might learn how to make the most profitable use of their allotments. Arrangemetlts were made with a limited number of 1ndians on the Cmw Creek and Lower BrulQ reservations and in the Butte Creek and Big White River districts of the Rosebud Reservation, where conditions seemed most favorable, to market their crops for them. The commercial agent is to arrange for selling the crops at the best market prices to be obtained, and he does not anticipate any di5culty in disposing of all the surplus produce which the Indians may raise. Mr. Phillips's work covers2,088 square miles, with a population of 3,146 Indians. During this last summer about one-half of them, . represented by a55 heads of families, made some attempt at farming, the total area put in crop being 3,378t acres, of which 1,4612 acres were cultivated .by self-supporting and the remainder by ration or. . dependent Indians. Many of the former became self-supporting after the offer to market their crops was made, and that they have e, crop under cultivation is due, in many cases, to the proffered assist-ance; but a guaranteed market for crops is limited to Indians who are styled as not self-supporting. Of the total area cultivated, 1,896 acres were planted in corn, 508% ill oab, 2436 in potatoes, 194 in wheat, 134 in flax, and the remainder in barley;rye, spelt and miscel-laneous garden truck. The area cultivated by a family varies from 16 acres to 70'acr6. Those having small patches will harvest prob-ably no more than they will consume during the winter, but a large number are going to make a very satisfactory showing. The commercial agent has found it di5cult to induce the Indians to look after their crops while they are maturing. The families like to wander off and spend month or more in visiting, and they are disposed to spend considerable time in celebrations of various kinds and in attending distant religious conventions, etc. Considerable progress has been made during the year in the way of permanent improvements, and many comfortable farmhouses have been constructed, some said to be worth about $1,500. - I shall be satisfied with the undertaking if this experiment results in any considerable lessening of the number of Indians dependent on government support. HANDLING THE TRUST FUNDS OF MINORS. My report of 1906 referred to an experiment vhich s;-e were mak-ing at the Rosebud Agency in South Dakota. The names of those Indians who could prove that they were fit to be trusted with the |