23
137. Cultivation.—A great number of improvements have been made
during the year, fresh land has been taken up and levelled, and new water
courses have been made. The stable cultivation has been increased by 50 acres,
and a large portion of it is being put under dhoob grass cultivation. Sully has
been increased very largely, and now consists of 600 acres. Extra land is
being taken up and walled at Mundianwala, and the Chaoni block has been
enlarged. The importance of this extension of cultivation may be gathered
from the fact that although the barani crop has been completely lost for the last
two years, the irrigated land has enabled us to feed our animals and not only lose
none from starvation, as invariably occurred in past years, but to continue our
operations comparatively successfully.
138. Table XVIII shows the expenditure of the Farm for the year under
report to be Rupees 1,25,251-11-0, and the receipts Rs. 84,919-4-1, and the
value of stock, etc., on hand is Rs. 2,54,057-12-6 against Rs. 1,12,838-14-1,
Rs. 85,790-7-10 and Rs. 2,47,124-3-9. The expenditure has risen owing partly
to the bad fodder season and partly to improvements effected on the Farm, ex-
tension and enclosing of cultivated land, making new water-courses, etc. The
estimated value of the stock, etc., in hand has increased, and there can be no
doubt whatever, as to the improvement in quality of the stock generally. As
noted last year the examiner of local fund accounts, Punjab, subjected the
accounts of the Farm to a severe audit, which proved most satisfactory, and
certain forms have been submitted for approval to Government with a view
to simplifying the system of accounts for future use. The new system, after
a year's trial, will be brought into force and regularly checked by the peripate-
tic auditor. I consider that great credit is due to Captain Farmer for the
zeal and ability with which he has conducted the business of the Farm through
an exceptionally arduous and trying year.
PART C.-GENERAL.
Expenditure of
the
depart-
ment.
139. Table XIX shows the total cost (Imperial and Provincial) of the
department during 1905-06, amounting to Rs. 12,81,243-2-6 against
Rs. 10,82,352-11-0 in the previous year, or an excess expenditure of
Rs. 1,98,890-7-6. Increases are noticeable under almost all the headings of
expenditure which can be accounted for by the extension and expansion of the
department generally.
140. This table embodies the figures furnished by the Comptroller, India
Treasuries, as regards Imperial contributions, as well as the provincial cost
furnished by the several Accountants General to the Superintendents of this
department. The Government of India have now under consideration mea-
sures for obviating the difficulty complained of last year in regard to the pre-
paration of this statement. It is proposed to recast the different headings of
expenditure to enable the required particulars being rendered more accurately.
General
remarks.
141. Considering the inadequacy of the staff, both supervising and sub-
ordinate, considerable progress has been made in almost every department of
our work.
142. Very great improvements have been made during the year in the
accommodation and equipment of our Veterinary Colleges and every effort is
being made to turn out greater numbers of graduates. Progress in this direc-
tion must necessarily be slow.
143. In regard to the organisation of the department, great strides have
been made in some provinces. The nature of the constitution of the
department, the fact that it is split up into a number of Provincial Depart-
ments, renders uniform progress difficult, and the improvement in some pro-
vinces is greater than in others. Many new hospitals and dispensaries have
been built and opened during the year. Horse and mule breeding in non-
selected districts have been placed on a more satisfactory footing and are making
steady progress. The work done in the Bacteriological laboratory has been
very heavy, the outturn of serum having been very materially increased and
the results of its application excellent. Greater numbers of animals have been