13
strength of lunatics during 1895 was 170.87 against a daily average of 161.20
in 1894, and the dieting expenses were consequently higher. The cost of grain,
dâl, wheat and rice in 1895 was also higher than in the previous year.
The amount paid into the Treasury for manufactured articles sold, and sale
of vegetables and flowers and Asylum produce was Rs. 556-11-2 as compared
with Rs. 121-14-6 in 1894 and Rs. 31-11-1 in 1893. The first item is made up
by sale proceeds of—
Vegetables, flower, grass, &c. ...
Dairy produce ...
Miscellaneous ...
Total ...
Rs.
213
330
13
556
A.
2
5
2
11
P.
9
8
9
2
Dairy Farm.
In the month of August the Chief Commissioner sanctioned the starting
of a Dairy at the Asylum. In anticipation of sanction
and as a preliminary measure the land formerly belonging
to the Asylum, and which in 1891 had been temporarily excised from the Asylum
area and leased by the Civil authorities, was given back to the Asylum, and two
cows were purchased in May, and in July three additional cows, one buffalo,
one breeding bull, and one bullock for the Farm, and the necessary milk and
cream pans for the use of the Dairy. The total amount at first sanctioned was
Rs. 560 and the expenditure on the live-stock abovementioned amounted to
Rs. 322-8-0. The objects for which the Dairy was started were partly to
ensure the lunatics obtaining a sufficiency of pure milk, and also to afford to
some of them a congenial out-door occupation, and further to enable the outside
public to purchase the surplus Dairy produce at the market rate and thus
guarantee to them a supply of pure milk and butter, not otherwise obtainable,
and by this means cover the cost of maintenance of the Farm and also make
it a source of profit to the Asylum. Although the project was started late in
the year and thus was not in proper working order throughout the year, I am
glad to state that the success of the scheme has been beyond my expectations.
The total expenditure on the Farm including the primary cost of purchase of
stock, feeding expenses for six months, purchase of Farm utensils and the pay
of a gowala for six months was Rs. 593-9-4. Deducting from this the profit
derived from the sale of milk, butter, ghee, &c., to the outside public, viz.,
Rs. 423-5-6, and adding the value of milk and curd supplied to the Asylum
inmates, viz., Rs. 140-7-8 and Rs. 29-8-0, the estimated value of cowdung
supplied for use as fuel, the total receipts were Rs. 593-5-2, that is, the total
receipts and expenditure for the six months almost exactly balance each other.
During the next year the outlay on stock will be small, and the profit will be
much greater. There has been a great demand for the surplus produce, in fact
the supply could not keep up with the demand, and there is no doubt that had
the Farm been able to supply as much as was wanted by the public there would
have been a considerable profit to the Asylum. The distance of the Asylum
from most of the houses of the residents, and the fact that it was necessary to
send to the Asylum for the milk and butter supply at first was thought
might deter people from sending, but as the good quality of the produce has
become more widely known, most people are glad to send. A great help has
been the temporary loan to the Asylum Dairy of the Laval milk and cream
separator belonging to the Revenue and Agricultural Department. I am of
opinion that with some additional milch stock, the success of the scheme is
assured.
The Chief Commissioner, Mr. Woodburn, after his inspection visit of the
26th of November, kindly sanctioned an additional expenditure of Rs. 300-0-0
on the purchase of more live-stock, and also kindly presented three calves (one
cow and two bulls) to the Asylum Dairy.
The net profit during the year was Rs. 1,358-10-1 as compared with
Rs. 749-9-2 in 1894 and Rs. 531-8-2 in 1893.
The manufacture of cloth for Asylum use has been continued, the value of
the cloth supplied during the year amounting to Rs. 148-10-0 as compared
with Rs. 98-2-0 supplied in 1894. At the end of the year the value of the