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Show REPORT OF THE COMMI6610NEIt OF INDIAN AFFAIBE. 9 and if this work could be continued for the next three or'four years the superintendent believes that the Indians of this section will be second to none. . . A greater number of Indians are cultivating land at the Fort Hall Agency in Idaho than at any time before in the history of the tribe. This is partly due to the fact that nearly 500 Indians from the Lemhi Reservation have settled among them and are working hard to obtain little farms where they intend to make their homes. Most of theIndians on the Flathead Reservation are engaged farming and stock raising for a livelihood. Many of them are fencing tlieir allotments and putting substantial improvements thereon. Some have nice orchards'. Nearly all have several head of both cattle and horses, and a few have fair-sized herds of stock. During the year many Indians on-the Crow Creek Reservation have taken up farming and broken up a part of their allotments. In most cases the crops have been properly rooked after and the results encouraging to the Indians. Stock raising hhas progressed, and the Indians realize that proper care of their cattle will furnish them sup-port when other means fail. . . - . At Crow Agency the Indians have takin more interest in the farms and gardens than ever before. Their home surroundings evidence a progress that is very noticeable to the people who are familiar with the past of the Crows. The superintendent writes: The annual agricultural fair doe6 a great good in inspiring the Indians to emulation. It hsa stmcted people from all parts of the country and been highly praised by the prees. The scheme is simply to bring the Indians individually and by districts into competition with each other in exhibiting the produck raised by themselves on their farms. Caeh priees aregiven far the beat of stock, poultry, fm,an d p d e n exhibib made. The agricultural hall the past three sessons at the fair ha8 been a moat attractive place and has great interest for the friend who is interested in the Indians' pmgress and welfare. Accompanying the superintendent's report is a list of the able-bodied Indians, together with an interesting statement of the property each possesses. On account of the anticipated opening of a part of the Cheyenne River Reservation the Indians have been busy making improvements on their allotments, building fences, etc. One of the duties of the farmers is to see that su5cient forage is put up by the Indiana to feed their stock during the winter, as the reservation is essentially a stock-raising country. While farming is in its infancy there, many of the Indians already raise more potatoes and other vegetables than are required for their immediate wants, and the earnings from the plus serve as an incentive to others to gather a few dollars in the same manner, with the result that there has been an increase in the garden acreage. ~. . ~ . ~.~ . ~ |