10
13. Transfer of Muktesar Garden.—In 1896, owing to the great scarcity
of grass at Muktesar and the difficulty experienced in providing the necessary
amount of fodder for the animals under observation, I approached the Govern-
ment of the North-Western Provinces with a view to obtain sanction to collect
the herbage from the Muktesar orchard during and after rains. At that date
for certain specified reasons the proposition was not acceded to, the principal
one being that during the rainy season herdsmen were encouraged to bring
their cattle from the plains to graze in the Garden for the sake of the manure.
Naturally it would have been at least impolitic to have allowed the Laboratory
experimental animals to have taken the place of the healthy ones. In Novem-
ber last, the question was again brought up during the meetings of the
Committee which met at Muktesar to decide Laboratory matters, and it was
decided to enquire whether the Local Government would consent to the inclusion
of the orchard along with the Inspection Bungalow in the Laboratory Estate.
On 8th December 1899, the Government of the North-Western Provinces
and Oudh replied to the Government of India as follows :—"The Lieutenant-
Governor and Chief Commissioner has no objection to the proposed transfer of
the orchard which has served its purpose and is no longer of any practical use
to this Government." Consequently at a sater date Government issued the
following orders : " The Government of India authorize Dr. Lingard to
assume charge of the orchard and the Inspection Bungalow which properties
will henceforth be administered as part of the Estate of the Imperial Bacterio-
logical Laboratory, subject, in the case of the Inspection Bungalow, to the
observance of the condition specified in the North-Western Provinces and Oudh
Government's letter No. 125, dated the 11th January 1900." Consequently
on April 1st, 1900, the charge of the orchard was assumed, and on the 2nd of
that month the books and records, etc., were received from the Deputy
Commissioner, Naini Tal, and deposited in the office of the Imperial Bacteriolo-
gical Laboratory. The land planted with fruit trees and utilized for the
growth of seed potatoes, with small jungle, covers a good area, therefore the
grass collected from this property should prove a great acquisition to the
Laboratory authorities.
With the present Budget allowance, it will be impossible to employ the
number of coolies necessary to keep the large area, covered with fruit trees in
this orchard, in order, and the trees properly pruned. I therefore propose to
dispose of the fruit to one or more contractors either 'at the commencement of
the year (the contractor taking all risk with regard to the output of fruit) or
by putting the fruit up to auction at the proper season whilst on the trees.
By this means a certain sum would be realized, which would cover the expense
necessary to provide a chowdri and several (2 or 3) coolies, to loosen the earth
round the roots of the trees and do the necessary pruning late in the year.
This number of men would have constant employment during the year, and
would be the minimum necessary to keep the estate from undergoing a retro-
gression to jungle. As the fruit season will soon commence, I have already
made enquiries with a view to acquaint likely men to inspect the probable yield
and to send in tenders for this season's fruit.
14. Reservation of the Muktesar Forest.—The Imperial Bacteriologist
in 1898, applied for the reservation of the forest some four square miles in
extent. After the settlement officer's visit and report, this forest became a
Reserved (Forest) by Notification No. 670—XIV-19B.-14, dated 19th August.
1899, and the inhabitants of the surrounding villages, viz., Gohna, Anuthi,
Bhadiuti, Pungrari, Pokhri, Pithowli, Darmoli and Latowli, were allowed
grazing and fodder rights. As a matter of fact the right of grazing ought
never to have been sanctioned for the following reasons :—
(i) Although every care is taken to segregate animals for a period of a
month after an attack of rinderpest, etc., before allowing them to join the herd
and go out grazing, nevertheless it would be impossible to guard against
Laboratory cattle coming in contact with the village herds whilst out daily in
the jungle, if the above rights are permitted. The disease might be spread by
this means.
(ii) If we have difficulty in obtaining the necessary amount of fodder for
the Laboratory Cattle, what will it be when the herds from the above-named
villages are allowed to graze within the confines of the Laboratory estate ?