FARMING AT FORT BERTHOLD.
BY AGENT KAUFFMAN.
The number of Indian men engaged in doing farm work is constantly increasing. In issuing wagons to Indians last fall, I required that each man receiving a wagon should farm at least five acres of land for himself, or forfeit his wagon. All, with one exception, complied with this condition. Agency Indians farmed this year 832 acres; they prepared the ground in the spring under the direction of my farmer in excellent manner, and sowed 146 acres of wheat, from which I estimate a yield, from two days’ threshing now in progress, of 2,600 bushels of very good quality. This is the first effort of my Indians in raising wheat, and they are greatly elated with their success, and many are already asking for more land for next spring sowing. This improvement in farming by the Indians is gratifying to myself, as two years ago an Indian rarely cultivated to exceed from one-half to three-quarters of an acre; now some have cultivated this year 20 acres, others from four to twelve, and ask for more land for next year. Twenty Indian men, heads of families, have consented to go this fall 22 miles west of the agency, build houses and remain to farm 133 acres of land which I have had broken this summer.
These Indians are peaceable and friendly; many would assume the position of citizens and compare favorably with the average white man if they could have lands in severalty and the protection of the law. During May and June last I had flouring gearing put in position in the agency mill for grinding wheat raised at this agency last year, and manufactured 44,000 pounds of flour of good quality; there were also sawn during the year at the agency saw-mill 20,812 feet of lumber.