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and Provincial horses, ponies, donkeys, farm and young stock—for 1894-95. We are to take
over next year the Hapur encamping ground. A third of its area will be ploughed up; and
anjana, jurga, kewai, dub, etc., sown. This should give us a fair outturn of hay even the
first season, and if persevered in will after a very few years show excellent results. Supple-
mented by this extra area our grass-supply will suffice to enable us to do away with the grass
contract for the daily supply of green grass, as well as to make all our own hay. The con-
tract system is very unsatisfactory. Not only are we unable to reckon on a daily supply
equal to our requirements, but the stuff brought is often very bad; and as it may be cheeled
from places tainted with anthrax, surra, and other diseases of a bacterial or parasitical nature,
we run the continual risk of introducing some deadly epizootic amongst our valuable stallions.
Luoerne.
The outturn of this fodder was also successful; 2,600 maunds being obtained from
something under an area of 3½ acres. Here again I may observe that valuing our lucerne
at bazaar rates is not just. Ours being cultivated on the broad furrow and ridge system,
we are able even in the rains to keep it clear of weeds and grass; whereas what is
obtained in a market is sown broadcast, never weeded, insufficiently manured and
frequently cut after it has flowered, with the result that a large proportion of it is grass
and weed, and the lucerne itself frequently coarse and innutritions. The great drawback to
this crop is a large amount of irrigation it demands during the hot weather and its delicacy
during the rains. That grown from Persian seed, which I obtained from that country some
years ago, seems to be the hardiest and gives better crops than any other. It is run close by
the Quetta seed.
Guinea-grass.
As usual, we had a fine crop of this fodder. From 1¾acres, 1,770 maunds were pro-
duced. At one time in the rains, so fast did it grow that we had an amount of surplus.
This I tried to dispose of to the mounted branches of the service in Meerut; but although
I offered to carry it as far as Khurkhowda (half way) free of cost, I was unable to do so.
Consequently we were compelled to silo 190 maunds of it. This year I shall considerably
curtail the area of land under guinea-grass. As we have orders for several hundred roots we
shall be able to sell what we dig out at a profit.
Impey.
An acre and a half were devoted to impey, from which we obtained 1,164 maunds
besides seed. I think myself another cutting could have been obtained and thus made our
outturn even greater. Not only does this crop give a profitable return, as far as the amount
produced goes, but it is much relished by both horses and cattle. Containing, too, as it does, a
considerable quantity of saccharine matter, it is an excellent fodder for animals out of condition,
fattening them rapidly. It should form an important addition to the ration for milch cattle.
Buffalo grass.
A small area, one-fifth of an acre, was put under this grass as an experiment, with an
outturn of 11 maunds. It is an excellent fodder and is eaten with avidity by both horses
and cattle. Its cultivation is easy, and I would recommend it to the notice of officers in
charge of Government grass farms, if they have not already started growing it. 1 have to
thank Veterinary-Major Poyser, Army Veterinary Department, for kindly giving me the first
roots I was able to get. Subsequently, we obtained seed elsewhere.
Carrots.
Carrots were grown on an acre and a half of the farm—half under English and half under
indigenous roots. From this 196 maunds of the former and 244 of the latter were obtained.
This was a great improvement on last year, when the outturn gave only 24 maunds and
5 pounds of seed. The quality of the carrots was good.
Oats.
The area under cultivation was reduced from 12½ acres to 9; it having been found
last year that the irrigation could not be kept up with our limited number of farm animals
without neglecting the dub grass. From these 9 acres 191 maunds were fed off green, while
175 maunds of oats and 400 of oaten straw were stored for use. The straw will be used as
chaff and eke out our hay should we have occasion to economise the latter.
Linseed.
To endeavour to eradicate the coarse grasses which grew on the strip of land
between the riding-path and ring fence, we ploughed it up, sowing linseed over it to turn it to
account. The experiment was a failure. The linseed had to be left to take care of itself, was
attacked by insects, and a great part of it destroyed: only 1 maund and 8 seers were obtained.
Maize.
Maize was grown on 9 acres as a rain crop the yield being 60 maunds.
Barley.
Barley was sown too late, with the result that only 27 maunds of grain and 25
maunds of bhusa were got off two acres.
Gram.
This for the same reason—late sowing—gave a poor result: 52 maunds grain, 35
maunds bhusa off 7 acres. From these 9 acres, however, the maize mentioned above was
also obtained as kharif; so the yield altogether was fair. As the object of growing these
crops is to clear the land of coarse grass, even a small outturn pays.
Clover.
Red and alsike clover was sown on a quarter-acre patch as an experiment. The pro-
duce amounted to 65 maunds of green stuff and 4 seers of seed. During the next rains I
intend sowing red clover amongst some selected patches of dub, in order to get a mixture of
herbage in the hay. I fear, however, that the dub will starve it out.
Sugarcane.
A quarter of an acre was put under sugarcane, yielding 121 maunds of cane and 49
maunds of tops. This was fed off to horses out of condition. It is excellent fodder for thin
animals; and as whatever balance remains unused can be readily sold, it is a profitable crop
to grow.