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PART I.—IMPERIAL REPORT.
B.—REVENUE SECTION.
IV.—INSTRUCTION FARM.
474. This farm is fulfilling the purposes for which it is intended, viz.,
that of raising fodder and other crops for the use of the Government stallions :
without it, it would be impossible to get the horses that arrive at the depôt
sick, or those that are delicate or again those that require acclimatization,
into proper condition. Another great point gained by the farm is, that it
allows us to carry out experiments with fodder crops on a small scale, these
have, however, been much restricted this year owing to the scanty rainfall.
The third object is to endeavour to work the farm with as little expense as
possible and to make the mares pay for themselves by working and carrying a
foal at the same time. I have before recorded my opinion that any work in this
country likely to cause any great strain on a mare when in foal, is likely to be
injurious, and this was amply borne out by the fact that in the North-Western
Provinces Farm, where the amount of cultivation was too great for the number
of mares, no foals were dropped. This year has proved conclusively to my
mind what can be done with mares without injury. The first ploughing must
be done by bullocks, after which, if the land is light, cross-ploughing can be
done by mares, but even that is at times injurious. The year under report has
been a great test as to what can be done as far as irrigation is concerned. The
wells may be said to have been kept going constantly for six months, and the
whole of this work has been done by the mares.
North-Western
Provinces Farm.
475. In former reports, I have noted the emaciated condition in which the
farm mares were, and the fact that they did not hold or that they aborted;
this year, the arable land has been reduced from 40 to 32 acres, and at this it
may now remain, and although the irrigation has this year been excessive, the
mares have much improved in condition, and show the following results:—
Of 9 big mares, 1 had a filly and 3 are in foal.
Of 7 pony mares, 1 had a mule foal and 3 are in foal.
Of 7 donkey mares, 5 colts were dropped and 2 are in foal.
This must be looked upon as the most satisfactory report as yet received
from the North-Western Province Farm.
476. Attached to the North-Western Province Farm, I have started a run
for young donkey colts; some are the progeny of the donkey mares kept on the
Farm, whilst many are bought in the districts of Gujrat and Rawalpindi as
two year olds. They are then run on the encamping grounds until they are
4 years of age, when they are either drafted as Imperial donkey stallions or are
sold to Native States or District Boards, when these are anxious to promote
mule-breeding; this will, in time, prove a most useful adjunct to our donkey
supply which at present is so very restricted. Of 50 young donkeys that have
been on the run during the past year:—
9 were transferred to the Imperial list.
8 were transferred to South Punjab.
1 was trasferred to North Punjab.
1 was sold to North-Western Provinces Government.
1 was sold to Gujrat District Board.
2 were sold to the Ulwar State.
5 were sold as unfit for stud purposes.
23 are still remaining,
50 Total.
477. By the foregoing it will be seen that 22 have proved fit for stud
purposes and have been drafted to work, whilst 5 had to be sold as unfit for