23
mules. This is very satisfactory, as there are always many mares in the regi-
ments which from breakdowns and other causes are unfit for work, yet will
breed very good mules.
75. During my tour in Gujarát I noticed that the horse owners in parts
bordering on Káthiáwár strongly objected to their mares being branded. They,
moreover, object to the use of Government sires, as they prefer the Káthi breed.
In the eastern part of Gujarát the mares are small but of a good quality, and
I considered it advisable to place a stallion at Parántij. In the southern
part of the Kaira District the owners are very keen, and I branded a considerable
number of mares this year at Borsad, where I have recommended to place a
stallion when the arrangements for his stabling are completed. I visited Surat
for the purpose of branding mares with the intention of placing a stallion there,
but the number of mares inspected did not warrant my doing so. The condition
of horse-breeding in the Deccan is still very satisfactory although the breeders
have suffered terribly from the effects of famine for the two previous years.
They are also very much inconvenienced by the restriction imposed by plague
regulations, many of them being afraid to venture so far as the various stallion
stands. In the Sátára District the same conditions have been prevalent both as
regards famine and plague, which accounts for the small number of coverings in
that district. The class of mares, especially in the Tásgaon Táluka, I noticed to
be very good, though the number was small.
Fodder Arrangements.
76. In May and June the land within the stable enclosure was prepared
for sowing. Nearly three-fourths of this was sown with jowári and the remain-
ing one-fourth with guinea grass and lucerne, as the well water is not sufficient to
irrigate the whole of the area. Although the rainfall was not very favourable,
jowári and guinea grass throve well and gave a good outturn. Lucerne, however,
completely failed owing to blight. The outturn of grass in the Padampur kuran
was more than anticipated.
The total amount of fodder raised under the departmental arrangements
was 227,547 lbs. against 72,745 lbs. last year. All the hay from the kuran is
put in two stacks, one of which is still intact and will be preserved or sold
according to the seasonableness or otherwise of the current year's rainfall.
The well was further sunk at a cost of Rs. 47 during the year under report
as was proposed; still it fails to irrigate any crop during the hot weather, and the
water is only sufficient for ordinary purposes of drinking. The services of the
"bhisty" were dispensed with, as the water is sweet and thus a saving of Rs. 96
is effected annually.
The following table, worked out at contract rates, gives details of expenses
and outturn:—
Expenditure.
Pay of máli and motwála ...
Charges for maintaining a pair
of bullocks ... ... ...
Charges for preparing the
land ... ... ... ...
Cost of jowári seed ... ...
Cost of lucerne seed ...
...
Watchman for 5 months at the
Padampur kuran at Rs. 7
per mensem ... ... ...
Charges for cutting, carting and
stacking grass from kuran ...
Total ...
Amount.
Rs.
192
118
42
23
32
35
776
1,219
a.
0
2
12
4
8
0
4
15
p.
0
8
0
0
0
0
11
7
Outturn.
Jowári seed 210 lbs at 40 lbs.
per rupee ... ... ...
Kirbi 5,640 lbs. at 80 lbs. per
rupee ... ... ... ...
Guinea grass 27,830 lbs. at 100
lbs. per rupee
Hay 194,077 lbs. at 125 lbs.
per rupee ... ... ...
Saving owing to reduction of
bhisty service ... ...
Total ...
Net profit to Government ...
Amount.
Rs.
5
70
278
1,552
96
2,002
782
a.
4
8
4
9
0
10
11
p.
0
0
9
10
0
7
0