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Show 26 COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. Similar telegrams were sent to the supervisors, inspectors, super-intendents of irrigation, and others, urging organization and coopera-tion. The purpose of this telegram was amplified in a letter to all superintendents dated April 12, 1917, incorporating the President's appeal to the farmers of the country, in which I said in part: I am much gratified at the prompt and enthueiaetic responses to my telegram of April 9, urging i n c r e d production of foodstuffs by the Indians. With the entry of the United States into the world war the importance of an in-creased fwd supply can not be overestimated. We muat sacrifice every noneseential . along other line8 for thia supreme object. The service farmers should get into the field early and stay late, encomging and assisting the Indiana in every way poeaible. Enliat the cooperation of the lesaeea of Indian land and of the white farmers in the vicinity. This appeal is based on both economic and patriotic grounds. See that it is brought home to every employee apd Indian on the reservation, through the farmers and other industrial employees. Publish it in the school and agency papera and circulate it by every ather meane which may occur to you. Appeal to the pa-triotism of the Indians. Show them how they can serve their country effectively in the present emergency by exerting themselves to the uttermo~t in the production of foodstuffs. While my telegram mentioned foodstuffs, "psrticular!y wheat, beans, potatoes, corn, and meat," there should he no diminution in the production of forage far your own use. On April 21, 1917, the following telegram was sent to .the superin-tendents: What are you doing and what can be done in raising corn, milo, enrghum, potatoes, and other suitable crops in your judadiction? It is highly important that everything poseible he done in thk connection immediately. Wire program showing estimated acreage various crops and tots1 increased acreage over last year. And on May 112, 1917, the following letter was mailed: Telegaphic and letter responses to my follow-up telegram of April 21 indicate most commendable and gratifying activities on practically every resewation, as well a.~ at the schools, in the proeecution of our campaign for i n c r e d production of foodstufis. It is now apparent that the acreage of Indian land cultivated or to be cultivated this season will be from 25 to 50 per cent greater than last year, ind on some of the reserva-tions 100 per cent greatsr. I now wish to emphasize certain feat- of the campaign for vour careful attention. I In the enrhuaiaem for iu, invremd acreage do not overluuk the nec&ty oi proper and intensive methode ro obtain the maximum yield from each ,,ultivated acre. This will require very aggresive and systematic follow-up work and continuous supenieion by the service farmers, that there may be no let-up when the "first big drive" is over. Increased production is only one feature of the campaign, conservation being the other. The Indian women and girls should play an important part in thia phase of the campaign by the production of vegetablen and fnlits to be eaten freeh, or canned for winter use, and by mare careful and economical methods in preparation and dis-position of foodstuffs for the tsble The field matrons should be very helpful in these reapecia. - My attention has been called to the value of dried corn as an article of food. The corn ears, either sweet corn or field corn, are pulled when in the roasting-ear stage, scalded slightly, and the grains cut from the cob and dried in the sun. A circular will be issued later giving the beat metbodsof dryingand caring for corn. I call it to your attention now EO that you may have you farmers and field matrona take up the sub- |
