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710. More might well be done to promote mule-breeding, only two
donkeys being employed in the whole State.
BHOPAL AGENCY IN CENTRAL INDIA.
711. Nothing has been done in the Bhopal State but. I am pleased to
report that a beginning has been made in the States of Narsingarh and
Rajgarh during the year. Two stallions have been purchased by the former
State and, as I am informed by the Political Agent that owing to a minority
it is under management, there is every hope that horse-breeding will be able
to make a fair start.
712. The State maintains many horses, and a competent Veterinary
Assistant has been appointed; the horse-breeding operations will be immediately
under his management. Orders have been passed that none but selected
mares are to be covered. Rajgarh has also been supplied during the past year
with a very good Arab sire.
713. I would beg to record my thanks to Major Newmarch, the Political
Agent, for the interest he has taken in the matter.
RAJPUTANA.
Bhartpore.
714. To my great regret I have been unable to visit Bhurtpore this year,
as it is the only one of the Eastern States of Rajputana where any encouragement
is given to horse and mule-breeding.
715. The Diwan submits :a return, through the Political Agent, showing
that during the year under review, the three horse stallions have covered 129
mares, an average of 43 each; this is very satisfactory. The Arabs employed
are high-caste, and the result of this cross must have a beneficial effect.
Unfortunately no records have been kept of the results, so that it is impossible
to say how many foals were dropped.
716. Mule-breeding.—This State was furnished with one donkey stallion,
but asked to be allowed to purchase three Cyprians; these have been supplied
during the year. There are, therefore, donkeys at 4 different centres in this
State, and during the year they have covered 50 mares; the average covered by
each, viz: 12.5 is certainly not large, but it is satisfactory as being a new
industry we cannot expect it to take hold at once.
717. I am greatly indebted to Major Herbert, Political Agent, Eastern
:States Rajputana, for the interest he is taking in the extension of this
industry. He has caused a census to be made of pony mares in the 6 Northern
Tehsils of this State, by which he finds that 496 pony mares exist; the same
is to be done in the 6 Southern Tehsils. As there are many Mahomedans in
the Northern parts, it is hoped that there at least mule-breeding will prove
a success.
718. Every endeavour is to be made to encourage mule-breeding. A run,
close to the stables, is to be established in which young mules bought will be
allowed to roam. The paying of a fair remunerative price for young mules,
and showing the breeders that they have a ready market, will undoubtedly do
more to foster the industry than anything else can possibly do.
719. An official of the State is to be appointed as supervisor of horse and
mule-breeding. His duties will be to check the number and quality of
mares in the village, to note when they come into season, and to persuade the
owners to put them to the donkeys, and to keep an eye on the produce dropped.
720. With Major Herbert's assistance I see no reason why mule-breeding
should not extend in Bhurtpore.
Jeypore.
721. The Chief Member of Council, through the Resident of Jeypore,
reports that during the year 68 mares were covered by the four State stallions
at Jeypore, Sambhar, Hindown and Malpura, and that more would have been
covered had it not been that the stallion at Sambhar had been ill for a
considerable time. It must be remembered that the location of stallions in
outlying portions of this State is a new departure, and is likely to be looked
upon with suspicion at first; the start which has been made must, therefore, be
considered very satisfactory.