The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-20

pine Islands situation Just as 1t now
is. and give matters a few months in
which to settle down and adjust them
selves; to allow the people to come to
a full determination OF what their de-
sires are and give time for the matur-
ing OF plans OF government for the
islands"
The annual report of h supervising
architect. just issued. shows the con-
dition of the appropriations for public
buildings on Sept. 30. 1898. OF the Hell
ena building the supervising architect
says: Since the date of the last all
matters relating to the selection of a
site rave been completed, and sketch
plans and estimates in accordance
with law have been submitted and ap-
proved. A proposal has recently been
accepted for grading site. The draw
ings and specifications incident to fur
ther work are well advanced with the
view Of inviting proposals therefor at
an early day"
During the year ending Sept. 30, 1898.
there has been expended on the Hell
ena building s2.529.41. The total ex-
penditure on building and site to date
Is s4l. 1872 70. There remains in the
treasury s13l. o2i.25.
The Forest Reserves.
The Forester of this city, organ Of
the meddling American Forestry asso-
citation. in its current issue makes the
following official statements:
There are now fewer violations OF
the National park and forest laws Of
the United States than ever. Cleve-
lands reservation proclamation Is not
working the hardship that people
thought II would. n all classes are
glad that the senat amendment to he
snudry civil bill. abolishing the reser-
vations. did not prevail.
There are now in all 80 forest re-
serves with a total area of 1885, ia
acres. Other reservations are being pc
titioned for, seve. nj of which are GER
tain to be established within a few
months. The friends of forestry have
reason to feel encouraged. Public e
timent and a real public forest policy
are both becoming apparent.
The secretary of the interior and
the commissioner of the general land
office are certainly deserving OF great
credit for the fidelity and persistence
with which they nave labored to secure
some definite and timely action for
the preservation OF the timber on the
reserves. The system may not be rer-
feet nor the service entirely satisfac-
tory, but 1t must be remembered u a
it was organized to serve the imme-
date purposes Of the hour. n prop
Il VI a
for the administration and manage
ment Of the public forests, such as an
| enlightened nation should have. h a
| task for the future. Experienced
woodsmen and lumbermen are to lie
had in plenty, but as yet technically
trained and educated foresters. thor
oughly competent in all other details,
as well as those merely mechanical.
are few in number. though hopeful
signs indicate that the ranks of this
profession will now be rapidly aug
mented. Anything which tends to inn
prove existing conditions Isl deserving
OF encouragement"
A New Forage Plant.
Jared G. Smith. assistant agrostol-
ogist of the department of agriculture,
| has issued a bulletin on the advantages
of the gram, Idaho Cor chick pea as
a forage plant. He " II Is not a
native of the northern Rocky noun
| tains as has been claimed. but orig
mated in Asia Minor. and was one oil
the plants of the Greeks at the tlmt
of Homer, and occupied a prominent
place among the food plants of the
lower classes during the time of the
Roman Empire. From Europe II was
introduced in comparatively recent
times into India, where there are nov
over 5000. 900 acres devoted to its cul'
tivation either alone or as a by croI
with wheat. Next To the cereals. gran
forms the largest part of the food used
in India and i'm portions of northern
Africa, Spain and other countries Dor
dering on the Mediterranean. 1t 10 ais
extensively cultivated i'm Mexico. anC
used as food, but regarded as inferior
TO corn. Professor Smith says IL car
be used as an adulterant for coffee
but not as a substitute, for there j
no such thing as a coffee substitute.
IL can be raised for o one cent pc
pound. Professor Smith says II 1t vii
Weld % bushels to the acre IL VII
proye a valuable addition to western
forage crops on account or n nlgi
feeding value OF its seeds, but q
Until fuller and more extended trial.
have been made we would adVls'
Western farmers to be cautious or IN
vesting too much money or devotln'
too much land to its cultivation.
1.-THE Idaho pea has been grown ex
p~erimentally at the grass garden II
Washington, and seed has also beer
distributed to a limited number o
farmers in various parts OF the couh
try. The reports concerning 1t wer'
not very favorable except from SOM
parts of Montana, Colorado. Wyomins
Utah and Idaho. In the grass gardei
Of the department of agriculture II dl'
NOT grow higher than from eight 4
10 inches and the seed production wa
very moderate. The newspaper lie
ports of this pea grown in the ROCK!
mountain regions mention yields EST
mated at the rate of 80 bushels 10 IN
acre. but this is very unusual. IN
average crop in India is ABOUT !
hushels 10 the acre and the highes
Yields do not exceed % bushels. III
latter only when grown on the pes
soils under the most favorable condl