114
it is issued and considering the small circulation which a book of this description
must necessarily have, it cannot possible pay.
HORSE AND MULE BREEDING IN NATIVE STATES.
668. This is the fourth year during which endeavours have been made by
me to extend these industries in certain States that have expressed a wish to obtain
the assistance of this Department. I consider that by doing so, they are assisting
us materially, as not only will they be providing for their own wants, and thus
not enter into competition at our Fairs, but gradually, as numbers increase, the
produce foaled in Native States will undoubtedly find its way into our markets.
669. A review will only be made of such States which have received advice
from this Department, and instead of referring to them in the order in which I
visited them, as has hitherto been done, I consider that my remarks will be better
understood if I group them according to the Provinces or Agencies in which they
are situated.
670. Again I would record my appreciation of the help and kindness which
I have received from all ruling Chiefs and Political Agents of the various States
which I have been able to visit during the past year. I regret that time did not
allow me to visit Bhurtpore.
NATIVE STATES IN THE PUNJAB.
Bahawalpore.
671. I first visited this State on 9th October 1897, when I made a very
careful inspection of the Stud. I found that 11 entires were kept of which only
3 were fit to be retained as stallions, the remaining 8 were likely to do more harm
than good; on my recommendation, these were disposed of, and as the three that
were retained were only ponies or galloways, it was decided to purchase a
Thoroughbred Australian stallion, which has been done. At the request of the State,
I returned in January 1898 when I thoroughly overhauled the Stud, selecting
such mares as I considered fit for horse-breeding, relegating others for mule
breeding, and casting such as were not fit for either. I found that of 67 mares,
only 19 were fit for horse-breeding, 43 were retained for mule-breeding whilst 5
were recommended to be destroyed as being useless. As funds become available,
more mares will be purchased for horse-breeding, and in time I trust to see this
Stud placed on a sound basis.
672. I found that in addition to the mares abovementioned, there were 26
head of young stock on the run, but that no grain was allowed for them they being
expected to live on the mares' allowance; this will account ffor their stunted
growth. I recommended that, if it is considered advisable to maintain a Stud, it
is of paramount importance that the young stock should be fed.
The establishment has been placed under the direct orders of the Wazir of
the State, and a Darogah, trained in the Ulwar Stud, has been appointed.
673. This State is doing all in its power to foster horse and mule-breeding,
and I attach much more importance to this than to the Stud which I have just
deseribed.
Bahawalpore
Horse Show.
674. A Horse Show was held from 8th to 10th March 1898, when prizes
amounting to Rs. 1,025 were awarded. The following were the classes and the
numbers which competed in each class :—
I.—(a)—Horses over 15 hands, suitable for riding or driving...
(b)—Mares............
(c)—Remounts, 14-2 to 15 hands (horses)......
„
„
(mares) ... ...
II.—Brood mares over 3 and under 14 years of age......
III.—Branded
mares............
IV.—Geldings
...
...
......
V.—Colts and fillies of 1, 2, and 3 years of age...
VI.—Pony mares for
breeding
...
...
...
...
VII.—Pony young stock
...
...
...
...
VIII.—Mules
....
...
...
1
9
25
58
121
12
3
50
110
38
12