7
the year was 4 horse stock and 3 mules. The breeding of horse stock from
these Farm mares having proved unsatisfactory, or rather less remunerative
than the production of mules, orders have now been issued that in future all
Farm, mares be served by donkey stallions.
59. Five mares died and two were destroyed. One Instruction Farm horse
(gelding) was destroyed being old and worn out, and 3 stallions (Arabs) were
sold to District Boards for stud purposes.
60. Owing to insufficient and badly distributed rainfall, the season for
cultivation was reported as unfavourable, notwithstanding which the outturn
was satisfactory, resulting in a saving of R588-11.0 over the year's outlay.
Punjab.
61. During the year under review there were 5 colts and 1 filly dropped.
The remarks made in paragraph 58 above, regarding all Farm mares being
served in future by donkey stallions, apply also to the Punjab Instruction
Farm.
62. Four mares were sold, being unfit for Farm and breeding purposes;
and one stallion (Arab) was disposed of to the Kangra District Board for stud
purposes.
63. The Balance Sheet of cultivation operations continues to show a loss.
With scanty and uncertain falls of rain, added to the difficulties of water
supply for irrigation purposes, no hopes can be entertained at present, of the
Farm being worked to advantage.
GOVERNMENT CATTLE FARM, HISSAR.
64. The financial results of the working of the Farm during the year 1901-
1902, will be found recorded in Table XIX.
65. My first inspection of this Farm led me to think that it would be
advisable to greatly reduce the existing head of stock, as a large number
were small, stunted and of very mixed and indiscriminate breed, and to make
more efficient arrangements for the management of the cultivation. With
these objects in view, a Committee composed of the following Officers—J.
Mollison, Esq., Inspector General of Agriculture in India, Veterinary Major
W. D. Gunn, Superintendent, Government Cattle Farm, Hissar, and myself,
assembled at Hissar in December last.
66. The Committee carefully examined every individual head of stock and
out of the total number of 5,663, recommended that 3,580 should be retained
and the remainder disposed of to the best advantage. The chief reasons for
wishing to dispose of this large number were that they were of mixed breed
and did not come up to the high standard which has been fixed for the breed-
ing herd.
67. The Farm now contains 3,929 head of stock including mules and
donkeys, details of which are given in Table XIX (a).
68. It has been deemed advisable in future to breed nothing but pure
Harriana cattle as it is recognized that the soil, climate and natural surround-
ings are more suitable to the indigenous breed than any other class, and that
this breed is fully up to the standard required for Military purposes: moreover,
all bulls issued to the districts in future will be pure bred.
69. With this object in view, all the various herds have been graded.
Nos. 1, 2 and 3 containing the best and purest bred cows to which the best type
bulls have been allotted.
70. A system has also been established by which all cows not truly bred
or unsuitable in other ways will be gradually drafted and their places filled by
pure bred heifers from the Farm. This system will be strictly adhered to and
I trust in the very near future to have a pure breed of Harriana cattle estab-
lished on the Farm.
71. It will be necessary to purchase 15 more good herd bulls to complete
the number required for the 1,000 cows which it is proposed to keep. It is
estimated that little difficulty will be experienced in purchasing the right class,
provided a fair price is given. For this purpose the sum of R300 per head has
been sanctioned to purchase the required number.