70
Demand for
donkey
stal-
lions
403. I cannot help alluding to the great demand for donkey stallions and
the difficulties which this Department experiences in obtaining them. This
subject will, however, have again to be alluded to when referring to the demand
for these for District Boards, etc.
404. Every endeavour must be made to search for countries able to supply
us. Already one jack has been purchased at Quetta, and I am endeavouring to
obtain more through Colonel Gaisford, the Deputy Commissioner; the Consul
of Zanzibar has been addressed on the subject and has been asked to kindly in-
form us whether such are available as they are reported to be; and if so, at
what price.
405. Whilst at Jalapahar on inspection duty, I was much struck with some
mules that had been brought into Jalapahar for sale. They were sturdy animals
with good bone; to produce mules of that stamp the country must be supplied
with a good class of donkey. I therefore purpose asking Brigadier-General
Lance, Commanding Presidency District, whether he thinks a few could be
obtained from that source. This officer has always taken such a lively interest
in horse and mule-breeding that I feel certain he will help us if it lies in his
power.
406. In the body of this report I have already remarked so fully on the
want of reliability of the statistics available, that I feel but little more need be
said.
407. Improvement is required in the following directions:—
(a) Reliable information should be available in other Provinces, besides
such in which our operations are in force, as to the approximate
number of mares available for both horse and mule-breeding;
without such it will be impossible to extend either industry, es-
pecially is this needed in Rajputana, which, I feel, would afford
an excellent field for operations.
(b) Improved system of registration of foalings. The system now
adopted is that each zilladar reports monthly the results of last
year's coverings; this is most imperfectly done, either through
laziness or, I fear, in some instances, through the wish on their
part to extort money from the zemindar before granting him a
produce certificate. Immediate steps will be taken to endeavour
to remedy this fault.
(c) More reliable information is required from officers purchasing at
fairs as to the sires by which the various remounts are got. Every
endeavour will be made to obtain this. The officers of this
Department will be directed to assist these officers in obtaining
the information, and, as will be pointed out, they will thus be
adding another check to the non-granting of produce certificates
by the zilladars.
Horse shows
and fairs.
408. A full summary will be found at the end of the review of all fairs
and shows held during the year 1893-94.
Bacteriologi-
cal Laborstory.
409. Owing to the fact that the Laboratory is now situated in Poona, where
the climate is unsuitable, it has been found impossible to carry on any ex-
periments for the discovery of vaccines. I trust, however, that when removed
to Kumaon, this defect will be remedied. Although little progress has been
made in this direction, the Imperial Bacteriologist has worked hard and well
in the investigation of surra the results will be found in the body of the
report.
410. The latest information received as to the progress made in the build-
ing of the new Laboratory is dated 19th July 1894; it is in the form of a tele-
gram from the Executive Engineer as follows:—
Roof of main building put up. Masonry complete. Out-houses roofed and ready.
Buildings subsidiary to Laboratory forwarded. Afraid the buildings will not be habitable
until April 1895.