East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1914-08-18

IENlnA lnaA Nuc lNlleSl aOu most eA~
ficieut use possible be made OF the
indian school farms everywhere Com
missioner OF Indian Affairs Cato Sells
has sent letters to all Indian superin-
tendents, Major Swartzlander includ-
ed. asking that every effort be made
to make the farms profitable and at
the same time an object lesson to In
dian boys and girls.
The full text OF the commissioners
letter follows:
To An Superintendents:
/ am not satisfied that we are
making the greatest use of our school
farms. They usually consist of large
tracts OF fertile land capable OF rails
ing every crop that the climate in
which the school is located will per-
nit, In some cases these farms are
well irrigated.
In every case the schools have been
or can be furnished with all the
equipment necessary to till their
farms TO the fullest extent, and they
can be furnished with stock with
which 10 make substantial showing
in stock raising.
The agricultural training OF the
boy pupils in our schools furnishes
ample opportunity for intensive farm
ing II this training is to be of real
value and be effective in accomplish
ing its purpose the farming operations
should be financially successful and
At the same time conducted in ac-
cordance with modern methods
am convinced that there is a
large field for improvement in the
handling OF these farms, and 1 want
every field officer who has charge OF
such farm to see that its manage
ment is Of such a nature as will in
sure its development to the highest
degree of productiveness. practical
usefulness and object lesson.
The constantly increasing demands
on the various appropriations for the
Indian service make it necessary not
only to exercise the most careful
economy consistent with the end
sought and st the same time to see
that every resource in connection
i with Indian education and industry
Is developed TO the highest obtaina BILE
degree.
See that employees in charge of
your farms are men capable of rem
deiing proper and efficient service.
carefully determine the suitable crops
.cr the particular soil OF the tillable
and of your farm. giving the best at
tention to the raising and use of these
crops.
Our farms should grow corn. oats.
wheat and raise alfalfa. clover, tim
othy., etc. You should raise all the
potatoes and vegetables consumed.
We should not be satisfied with rails
ing feed for the school livestock. hut
We should raise everything the farm
garden and orchard will produce.
want you to raise livestock to the
fullest of your capacity; raise colt:
from the school mares; let your calve:
grow into beef for your school Grow
good herd OF hogs to follw the cat.
tie that you feed and use the waste
from the table at the school MAKE
your dairy amply large and of sucf
kind that there will be plenty of mill
cream and butter. Feed the skin
milk To the hogs and grow your porl
meat. Where practicable cure you
own bacon and hams, make your owl
sausage and dry and corn your Owl
beef.
Give careful consideration to chick
ea raising You should establish
chicken houses and place girls il
charge OF the chickens. This wOul
furnish poultry and eggs for you
needs and at the game time train you
girls in an industry which will be O
value to them in their future homes
Under some conditions it may b
practicable TO have a few swarms c
4 bees. start an apiary and teach be
culture while a. the same time ot
tanning a supply OF honey for tsbl
usc.
We should have orchards and vius
L. grow fruit at our schools wnic
arc lest adapted to the locations an
climates. The care of these orchard
and the raising Of small fruits wi
gi,e important training to the bOy
and girls.
Each school should haze a t.1e
garden TO produce the green stuff NJ
cessary for its own table. Und'
proper climatic conditions enoug
corn. onions. cabbage, tomatoe
beans. etc. should be grown not on
10 supply the school with fresh veg
tables but To furnish a good supp
for winter use. The canning OF veg
tables and fruits is highly importan
/ fully appreciate the fact that
some OF our schools, because OF cl
matte conditions diversified farmir
Is impracticable but there are vel
| few Indian schools which do n
| have farms peculiarly adapted TO &c
III tain lines Of agriculture and nor
Ill cultural development Where diVer'
LII nDA f.rrnInE la lmnracticable the na