3
that the results of the past two years during which the system has been in force
are very disappointing, as few of the officers appointed to issue certificates take
any interest in the work, and suggests that the scheme may be abandoned, as
owing to the removal of Sind from his jurisdiction he will be able to make more
detailed tours annually throughout the Presidency proper and to so arrange his
camps as to give an opportunity to every owner of mares to get them branded
by the Superintendent. Government have, however, decided in their Resolution
No. 3668, dated 2nd June 1898, to give a further trial to the system and will
await the report called for from the Superintendent in paragraph 2 of that Reso-
lution before taking any action on his present suggestion.
6. The number (465) of country-bred remounts purchased during the year
exceeded that (304) of the preceding year by 161. Of the animals purchased
only 94 or 20 per cent. were ascertained to be the produce of Government
stallions. This small percentage is accounted for by the fact that, with the
exception of the officers of the Remount Department, no officers who purchase
remounts endeavour to find out the pedigree of the animals purchased by them.
The number of colts castrated by the Salutris and Veterinary Assistants during
the year was 87 against 148 and 151 in 1896-97 and 1895-96 respectively.
This falling- off is attributed to the effects of famine and plague.
7. The total expenditure of the Department fell from Rs. 68,733 in
1896 97 to Rs. 67.878 in the year under review. Of this amount Rs 36,627
were charged to Provincial Revenues, Rs. 14,737 to Imperial Revenues and
Rs. 16,514 to Local Funds. It is to be noted that the total expenditure of the
year would have considerably exceeded the sanctioned allotment, had it not been
for the fact that a saving of Rs. 7,748 effected during the year under the heads
" Purchase of Stallions " and " Prizes at Horse-shows " was utilized in meeting
the excess charges under the heads " Cost of Feed, &c.," " Pay of Officers, &c."
and " Contingencies." The large increase in the cost of feed, keep, &c., of
stallions during the year was mainly due to unusually high prices prevailing
in the Deccan. The financial results of the arrangements made by the Super-
intendent with the sanction of Government to obtain and raise fodder at Ahmed-
nagar in order to effect economy in the the and keep of stallions at the Ahmed-
nagar Depôt, as described in paragraphs 84 and 85 of the present report, show a
net profit of Rs. 951-8-0. This, however, as observed by the Director of Land
Records and Agriculture, is due to the high value of the grass obtained from
the kuran, which is taken credit for at famine prices. Government learn with
interest the successful efforts of Veterinary Major Morgan to find water for
irrigation, and Government will await with interest the result of the cultiva-
tion of guinea grass in the present year. Government trust the experiment of
growing fodder for the Government stallions, instead of purchasing it, may
prove successful. It is satisfactory to notice that the efforts made by the
Superintendent to persuade cultivators to try experiments with oats in parts of
the Presidency have met with response in Ahmedabad and Sind.
8. It is disappointing to learn from inquiries made by the Superintendent
during the year under review in accordance with the orders conveyed
in paragraph 9 of Government Resolution No. 8560, dated 24th November
1897, that, with the exception of the Local Boards of the Panch Mahals
and Hyderabad which maintain stud-bulls, no District Local Boards take any
interest in the improvement of cattle-breeding in their respective localities. The
attention of the Hyderabad Local Board and of all District Local Boards should
be invited to the opinion expressed by the Superintendent in paragraph 62
of the report. During the year outbreaks of cattle-disease were reported from
19 districts of the Presidency, of which 11 had the advantage of the
services of Veterinary graduates, while no reports on the subject were received
by the Superintendent from the districts of Sholápur, Surat, Hyderabad and
Thar and Parkar. The total number of animals said to have been attacked