6
50. Owing to the increased price, it has been possible to purchase a very
much better stamp of young mule and the probable castings in future years
should not exceed 2 per cent.
51. The mules bred from the farm mares and born on the farm are far
superior in every way to those purchased in the open market.
52. Donkeys.—29 donkey stallions were present on the 31st March, 16
colts were purchased and 6 born on the farm during the year. 12 donkey
stallions were supplied to the Army Remount Department, 2 to Kashmir,
and 1 to the Bharatpur State. 13 Italian donkeys were disposed of—9 sold by
auction, 3 castrated and sold, and 1 destroyed. The Army Remount Depart-
ment rightly refused to take these animals as they were very crooked legged,
flat-sided and totally unfit for breeding purposes.
53. Donkey Mares.—32 were present on the 31st March. 14 were purchas-
ed during the year and 3 fillies born on the farm. 1 mare was sold and 1 died.
54. This scheme which was started at such an opportune moment is now
getting into working order and there can be no question that it is a thorough and
complete success. It will be gradually enlarged as suitable brood mares are
forthcoming and the fillies born on the farm are old enough to breed from.
It is an acknowledged fact that the best mules in India are sired by country-
bred donkeys, and the class we are now rearing and issuing from the farm
cannot fail to leave its mark on the mule stock of the country.
55. Zebras.—4 zebra stallions were received from Africa in February last.
They arrived in excellent condition, very soon settled down and are now per-
fectly tractable and docile. 40 pony and donkey mares have been purchased
to mate with these animals and a series of most interesting experiments with
regard to zebrule breeding will be carried on.
56. Cultivation.—No effort has been spared to bring this branch of the
farm into a thoroughly efficient state. All borders of the fields have been pro-
perly mapped out, the land thoroughly cleaned, jungle growth cleared away,
low-lying marshy land levelled and put under crops, and the whole of the cul-
tivated area surrounded by a high wall to prevent destruction of crops by pigs
and other animals.
57. A reference to Table XIX (b) will show the amount of fodder grown
and consumed on the farm. Owing to a succession of famine years it has
hitherto been found impossible to put by a reserve of fodder, but during the
past year, 70,000 maunds have been stacked for this purpose.
58. Table XIX shows that the receipts from the farm exceed the expendi-
ture by Rs. 5,508-2-6 and the estimated market value of the stock on the farm
amounts to Rs. 2,26,689.
59 Rapid and satisfactory progress has been made throughout all branches
of the farm. The receipts exceed the expenditure by Rs. 5, 508-2-6; the
land let out to zamindars shows a larger income by Rs. 717 than last year;
66 mules, 15 donkey stallions and 250 bullocks were issued to the service, and
37 bulls supplied to the Punjab, Native States and private individuals.
60. Great credit is due to Captain Farmer for the able and zealous manner
in which he has managed the farm. Its financial condition is most satisfac-
tory and it is now fully meeting the requirements for which it was established.
V.-BACTERIOLOGICAL LABORATORY.
61. The Annual Report of the Imperial Bacteriologist has been submitted
strictly in accordance with Revenue and Agriculture Department letter No.
861—49-1, dated 19th March 1901, and deals only with the actual working of
the Laboratory.
62. All reports connected with investigation and research work have
been published separately under the following heads:—
(i)-Notes on the different degrees of susceptibility to Rinderpest
exhibited by the various pure and mixed breeds of bovines and
buffaloes.