81
The result of this experiment was that (b) gave the greatest outturn of hay, (a) coming next, (c) third and (d)
last. Also with (a) and (b) the hay was of much better quality, and not so coarse as (d).
Bedding Grass.
The total yield was 1,000 maunds, viz: 800 maunds from the Farm and 200 maunds from the Encamping ground.
Of the 800 maunds from the Farm, 200 maunds were cut from round the ring fence during August and September;
200 maunds were sold to the South Punjab Depot at the rate of 4 maunds per rupee.
Mauritius
Water Grass.
The area under cultivation was ⅛ of a bigha. The grass was obtained from the Government Farm, Poona,
and put down on the 18th May 1897. It is propagated by cuttings, the stems root like Cynoden Dactylon
from every node, the cuttings are scattered evenly and lightly covered with soil. They soon strike and
send out straight and also creeping stems which in their turn take root at the nodes and send out shoots.
This plant is in its greatest vigour during the. rains.
Reana
Luxurians.
The area under cultivation was one bigha, the outturn being 2½ seers of seed and 24 maunds of green fodder.
This crop was sown on the 18th June and the young plants were thinned out a foot apart the first week in
July. The stalks are thick, but very succulent and it should make excellent feeding as green fodder. This
crop was retained for seed and took three months to reach the flowering period.
Solghum
Haliphense.
The area under cultivation was ⅛ of a bigha, the outturn being 8 maunds of green fodder and 6 chittacks
of seed. It is a very handsome grass and stands about 5 feet high when in flower. It is in its greatest vigour
during the rains. Three cuttings were obtained from this plot.
Clover
and
other artificial
grasses.
One-fourth of a bigha was put under cultivation. The seeds were sown both in the open and under trees
in the shade. They germinated, but the plants did not grow beyond a couple of inches, the climatic conditions
appearing to prevent their growth. Irrigation was carried out, but without any benefit being derived.
Mandua.
A great number of seeds have been collected from this plant and placed in seeds beds, they will be trans
planted when the rains break; the plots were weeded and a top dressing of manure applied.
Season.
The season was on the whole favorable. The Rabi rains were sufficient, but came too late as
those cold weather crops which are usually grown without irrigation had to be assisted by 3 waterings. Grazing
was abundant, and the hay and other dry fodders were saved in first class condition.
Rainfall.
Months.
May ... ... ...
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June ... ... ...
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July ... ... ...
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August ... ... ...
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September ... ... ...
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October ... ... ...
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November ... ... ...
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December ... ... ...
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January ... ... ...
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February ... ... ...
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March ... ... ...
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Fortnight of
each mouth.
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1st
2nd
1st
2nd
1st
2nd
1st
2nd
1st
2nd
1st
2nd
1st
2nd
1st
2nd
1st
2nd
1st
2nd
1st
2nd
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Rainfall
in inches.
Nil
7/10
32/10
3/10
106/10
52/10
2
119/10
6/10
21/10
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
5 7/10
Nil
Nil
Nil
Remarks.
From the foregoing it will be seen that in addition to hay which will be more than sufficient
for our needs for the next twelve mouths, 5,719 maunds of food stuff have been obtained from
the North-Western Provinces Instruction Farm during the year, and I venture to think that this
may be considered a very good record. In addition to this, experiments have been carried out in connection
with the following crops:— (1) Canadian Oats, (2) Gram (manured and unmanured), (3) Marwa. (4) Hay (cheeling
and burning), (5) Mauritius Water Grass, (6) Reana Luxurians, (7) Solghum Haliphense, (8) Clovers and other
artificial grasses (English).
The working of the Farm, as regards labor, has been carried out on the same principles as last year, that is to
say, no cooly labor has been employed. The weeding, cutting, carting of manure, &c., &c., has been done by the
Depot Syces.
Farm produce.
Punjab Farm.
499. With reference to Farm produce in the Punjab Farm, which is also
situated at Babugarh, the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, South
Punjab, states:—
Lucerne.
Two acres of Lucerne were cultivated this year yielding 1,739 maunds and 11 seers by weight, one acre of new
land was put under Lucerne cultivation in lieu of 1 acre old lucerne rooted up, which was last year attacked by
Porcupines.
The new field has done well with the exception of a small portion sown with Multan seed; this bit has
given only two cuttings of inferior quality; the leaves are small, the stalks short and not as succulent as the
indigenous seed. The remaining old lucerne will be rooted up and new lucerne sown next October on land on which
Impey has previously been sown, and the old lucerne fields will be put under carrot crop.
Guinea Grass.
The old roots were transplanted on to new soil in July and gave two good cuttings, next year the yield from
this crop will be much better.
Gram.
Five acres were put under Gram cultivation and yielded 68 maunds and 25 seers of good gram, and 75 maunds
bhoosa. This crop has been a success this year notwithstanding that some of the fields which were sown early
flowered and bore pods, but no grain was developed in them owing to their having been no moisture in the soil and
to the rain being late. After the fall of rain the plants threw out more stalks and flowers, which fructified and gave
an average yield.
Those fields which were sown later and just before the rain came down did well, yielding more than the
average quantity.
Nine and a half acres of Oats yielded 110 maunds seed, 340 maunds of straw and 121 maunds and 26 seers of
green oats, the last was given to the new Thoroughbred Australian and English horses. The crop was an average
one.
The same land yielded 11 maunds and 10 seers mustard,