means of support. This seemed like imposing a penalty upon industry; but
it was soon followed by requiring all able-bodied men to perform a
certain amount of labor for the common benefit, such as road-making,
bridge building, etc., in return for money or rations. This was a great
advance even though accompanied by some evils, notably the neglect of
allotments while their families camped with the gangs of laborers on
different parts of the reservation. Later, the same credit was allowed
for days' labor performed in improving their own homesteads and putting
up hay for their cattle. More cows and better farming implements have
been issued in recent years, and there is a wholesome effort to make the
work of the so-called agency or "district farmers" less of a farce than
it has often been in the past.

These farmers number about 250 and are employees of the Indian service.
They are supposed to instruct and assist the Indians of their
respective districts in modern methods of agriculture; but there has
been a time, probably not altogether past, when they were occupied
chiefly in drawing water, filling ice-houses, and a variety of similar
"chores" for the agent and his subordinates. In many cases they
themselves knew little of practical farming, or their experience lay in
a soil and climate utterly unlike that of the Indian country to which
they came.

Hon. Cato Sells, the present Commissioner of Indian Affairs, states in
his first annual report that he is placing more emphasis upon
agriculture than upon any other activity of the Indian Bureau. He
requires the farmers to make their homes in the districts to which they
are assigned, and to keep in close touch with the people. They are
furnished with modern agricultural text-books, and demonstration farms
or experiment stations are maintained at convenient points. Thirty-seven
practical stockmen have also been employed to give special attention to
this part of the work, and the Indians are said to be cooperating
intelligently in the effort to improve their breeding stock.

At certain agencies farming implements and seed are loaned to Indians
who have no other means of securing them, and hundreds who have been so
helped are meeting their payments when due with commendable promptness.
Agricultural fairs have been held in recent years at twenty or more
Indian agencies, arousing much local interest, and an increasing number
of Indian farmers are taking part in county and state f