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348. It will be recollected that my predecessor suggested a simple plan
whereby up-country bulls were to be imported into Bihar and Tirhoot, and
Sitamarhi cattle were to be sent to the lower districts.
349. The plan did not work as well in practice as was anticipated.
Up-country bulls could not be procured, as the local raiyats objected to put
with them, and my attempts to procure Sitamarhi bulls also failed.
350. This year I have been more successful, for eight Hissar bulls have
been purchased and some 8 Sitamarhi bulls have been secured. But this work
has revealed a startling fact, viz., the Hissar bulls are far inferior to those
imported in former years. That the bulls on a large Government Farm like
Hissar should deteriorate so rapidly must give rise to some surprise. The
causes of this degeneration when ascertained would form a subject of deep
interest to all those concerned in stock-raising.
351. But the apparent deterioration of the Hissar Farm bulls does not in
any way alter the point of the remarks I made last year in reference to Bengal,
viz.—"I have now shown that good bulls are required and in numbers. I
have shown that we cannot get them now. The remedy seems to be that
Bengal shall breed her own bulls, providing it can be proved to be remunera-
tive when all things are considered." Our recent experience rather emphasizes
the necessity that Bengal should rely upon herself for raising, good bulls.
352. During the year a very large amount of important information has
been collected relating to the grazing, milking, size, rearing &c., of the cattle in
the various subdivisions of this province (Appendix LXVII1).
353. The information is not perhaps always mathematically correct, but
it is quite accurate enough to be of great assistance to those who understand
something of Bengal cattle, and should prove interesting to a large circle.
354. It will be noticed that some district officers have taken very great
pains, and have been much interested in this important work, and others
have not.
355. This work will always be useful for reference, but the main point of
interest at the present moment is that out of some 128 subdivisions 5 are
reported to have too many bulls, 45 have enough, and 74 have not enough.
These facts point to the size of the task to be done.
356. In connection with the proposal that Bengal should breed bulls, I
addressed the District Officers, on the suggestion of Mr. W. C. Macpherson, the
late Director of Land Records and Agriculture, on the subject of land suitable
for a cattle farm.
357. From the information received, there appears to be land available
near Giridih Railway Station in Hazaribagh, on the Kaharbaree encumbered
estate, but it would be necessary to construct large reservoirs in order to store,
water for irrigation purposes.
358. Land is also available near Rampur 8 miles north of Bagha, in Bettiah.
The only drawback seems to bo that the place is 44 miles away from the nearest
present station, in a corner of Bengal, and the site is reputed unhealthy.
359. I have visited Monghyr Fort, which was suggested as a possible site,
but apart from other reasons, it struck me there were no facilities for growing
forage crops. Moreover, the land is near a large bazaar, and probably the
Goalas would attempt to poison the cattle.
360. I also visited Karnaghar Fort near Bhagalpur, but the place besides
being too small, is surrounded with bustees, and is unsuitable.
361. I also visited Buxar, the site of the old Horse-Breeding Stud, and
corresponded with the Inspector-General of Jails in order to ascertain if any
land remained unoccupied by that Department. Land was not available.
362. There remained only the old Horse Farm at Pusa, in Darbhanga.
363. When I first joined this appointment, Pusa was suggested to me as a
good site for cattle-breeding operations, but in view of the fact that horse-
rearing was said to have failed there, I had some fears as to the result as regards
cattle.
364. Since then I have acquired a further knowledge of the subject, and
I am led to believe that the failure of horse-breeding at Pusa would come under
the broad head of indifferent system and expensive management.
365. Moreover, I have visited the place and the neighbourhood, and as far
as I could see and gather, cattle round about do as well as the scanty grazing