39
Bhir has been taken over by the District Board of Hissar for the use of cattle owners of the Hissar City. This
portion has been wired off from the Government Bhir.
Disease.
"During the year, I regret to say Foot and Mouth desease, Black Quarter and Rinderpest broke out among
the Farm cattle. Although Foot and Mouth disease attacked nearly all the animals, they were only incapaci-
tated for a short time and no deaths occurred.
"Black Quarter broke out among the young male stook at the Chowni Farm. After careful enquiries the
disease was located in a Jhowl near the Farm stables. Precautions were taken to keep the cattle from grazing
in the neighbourhood and the spread of the disease was stopped after 6 deaths only had taken place.
"With Rinderpest, however, we were not so fortunate. The disease occurred at Hansi among the young
female produce and had been probably introduced by stray cattle from the neighbouring villages where the
disease had been very virulent for some time previously. Every precaution had been taken to prevent the
disease from spreading but without effect. The disease persisted for a considerable time and only died out after
claiming many hundred victims.
"Veterinary Major Hagger, Assistant to the Inspector General, Civil Veterinary Department, carried out a
series of inoculations with Riderpest serum.
" While these inoculations at Hansi were being carried out, four young females escaped and found their
way back to their old lines at Chowni whither the males had been removed. A few days afterwards Rinderpest
was discovered among the animals at Chowni. Veterinary Major Hagger continued his inoculations at Chowni
also with much more favourable results. It is estimated that the loss amounted to about 100 bead of stock.
This statement may not be considered quite definite, but it must be explained that while many of the post-mortem
examinations proved conclusively that the animals had died of Rinderpest, still there were many in which appear-
ances were not clearly proved.
"It was feared that the disease might spread to the Home Farm and Stables where all the most valuable
stock were kept, but by using extraordinary precautions, the scourge was warded off and no cases occurred among
the breeding cows or herd bulls.
Cultivation.
"Much importance has been attached to this branch. As much laud as possible has been taken up and
worked by the Farm.
"Hitherto it had been the custom only to cultivate a few hundred bighas and to let out the land to culti-
vators partly on rent and partly on batai. During the Rabi of 1898-99, 169 bighas 18 biswansis were cultivated
by the Farm and 1,291 bighas by cultivators: during 1899-1900, the Farm cultivated for the Kharif 1,155
bighas, but 284 bighas were lost on account of the drought, leaving an affective balance of 871 bighas which came
to maturity. For the Rabi of 1899-1900, the Farm cultivation was 1,026 bighas and 849 let out on rental and
batai.
"In addition to the increased cultivation, the following will show the improvement which has been realised
in the rent revenue :—
1894-95 showed rent receipts of
1895-96 „ „ „
1896-97 „ „ „
1897-98
„
„ „
1898-99
„ „ „
1899-1900 „
„ „
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
R
1,162
1,155
495
949
1,833
1,955
a.
13
14
8
0
0
2
P.
0
9
0
0
0
3
"Rupees 1,537-13-0 were also realised from the Hansi Bhir.
"This, in conjunction with the extra amount of land cultivated by the Farm, shows very decided progress.
The Farm produced 4,000 maunds of grain and 1,17,236 maunds of fodder. Had it not been for the cultivation,
the cattle must have starved as no money could have bought the fodder.
"Many improvements in the Estate have also been made particularly in the Chowni Farm. Hillocks have
been levelled, new water courses have been made, strong culverts and bridges have taken the place of old broken
ones which required constant repairs, and sluices have been placed at convenient situations in order to fully
utilize the water for irrigation and prevent waste.
"Sixty-eight bighas at Chowni have in this way been reclaimed, still much requires to be done before the
Farm can be considered to be in thoroughly good working order.
"The estimated quantity of grain from the Rabi of 1899-1900 is 7,000 maunds with a similar amount of
bhusa.
Revenue.
"The largest item of receipt is represented by the number of bullocks which were sent into the service.
Two hundred and thirty-seven Siege Train and 229 Army Transport Bullocks were selected and drafted into the
Army. If these bullocks represented the price of R60 and R50 each respectively, the sum to be placed to the
credit of the Farm would be R27,670. Irrespective of this, the total sum credited into the Treasury during
1899-1900 amounted to R31,611-10-1. A glance below will show that this is far in excess of the sum credited
during the previous three years:—
1896-97 total receipts amount to
1897-98 „ „ „
1898-99
„
„
„
1899-1900 „
„
„
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
R
13,333
20,926
17,025
31,611
a.
14
6
10
10
p.
2
2
9
1
"The year has been a most trying one as both famine and disease have been extremely severe, indeed such
a year of famine has never before been experienced. I believe that in ordinary years it has been customary to
stall feed the cattle for about three months only during the year, but during this year the animals have been
practically stall fed throughout the year, and it was only the practice of the strictest supervision and economy
that has enabled the Farm to be carried on without asking Government for more money.
" Three very large tanks have been dug in the Bhir by famine agency, and these should be of great benefit
to the cattle.
"When the Sully Minor Canal—to the north of the Bhir—is remodelled and cleared and the protecting
walls built, a great deal more land will be put under cultivation so that this, combined with that already under
cultivation at the Home Farm—Mundianwala, Chowni and Hansi-should render the Hissar Farm safe from
future famine."