56
will no longer remain, but the lakhs of rupees now sent out of India to foreign countries for
imported horse stock will be distributed amongst the horse, pony, and mule breeders of India.
In several countries of Europe both bullocks and horse power are used in agricultural
and cart work; but gradually mare power is becoming more generally employed for reasons
above explained. In Hungary four horses and mares may be often seen treading out the corn
in the same way that bullocks do in India.
At first sight it may be thought that the natives of India will never give up using
bullocks for farm and carting work; but it is well known that a native will, when convinced
of a new line of action in any trade being profitable, accept and adopt it.
The Instruction Farm is being worked with the view of showing and proving to native
farmers and horse employers that by using mare power profit assuredly results. When a
native sees that a horse mare or pony mare can do farm work as well as a bullock, and he
likewise notes that the mares are either in foal or have foals at foot, and that the produce is
saleable at good market prices, he will admit that the practice is sound.
It is therefore urged that every inducement should be offered to allow of the satisfactory
results of cultivating and carting by horse and mare power at the Civil Veterinary Department
Babugarh Depôt Farm becoming generally known and spread throughout the horse-breeding
districts of India. In other districts, where the indigenous horse and donkey does not exist,
being without the horse-breeding zone—indeed, having a climate unsuitable for horse stock—
bullock power is generally available, and of course should be employed in lieu, as horses will
not work satisfactorily in the climate and on the soil of lands of such districts.
It is therefore advisable to introduce horse and mare farm working in those districts only
where horses are found to be easily and satisfactorily bred and reared.
A most important subject in connection with horse-breeding is the liberal feeding with
proper kinds of forage and grains of the young stock, so as to give them every chance of
growing into strong and useful animals. Horses, like other stock, are found stunted or well
grown according to the manner in which they are fed and reared; hence we find the ordinary
country "tatoo" the result of being reared on scant and very often innutritious grass lands;
and, on the other hand, the large and well developed Punjab horse, which has for generations
been from infancy well fed in order to be developed and made fit for war purposes. The food
given to bullocks during dry months will as a rule do for horses. An agricultural bullock
duly fed on dry churri, cut up in short pieces, and mixed with the usual amount of soaked
grain, also bhusa, is found to keep in good condition. A horse or mare similarly fed will also
do well. In Sind and other very dry climates, where green and dry grass cannot be obtained
for horse stock, churri and bhusa, as above noted, are always given.
So the instruction afforded at the Depôt Farm in ploughing, ridging, harrowing, manur-
ing, water-lifting, and the sowing and cultivating of forage crops and grains by horse
and mare power in an easy and satisfactory manner, with the view of obtaining good and
heavy forage crops, is the most important adjunct to horse-breeding.
The methods of grass and forage cultivation found most productive are practically carried
out on the farm, and the crops obtained can be seen, weighed, and thus judged of.
Local Governments and Administrations are enjoined to be so good as to allow native
chiefs, wards, farmers, and members of District Boards, also revenue officials, to have an
opportunity of visiting the Babugarh Civil Veterinary Department Instruction Farm at the
times when classes are held for the demonstration of the following subjects:—
I.—Stable management.
II.—Management of stud stallions, brood mares, and young stock, and the system of
utilising them for agricultural purposes.
III.—Forage crop cultivation, viz., lucerne, guinea grass, impey, dub, carrots, oats,
barley, &c., &c.
IV.—Irrigation by horse, mare, mule, and donkey power.
It has been arranged that these classes will be held from 8th to 16th August and from
24th December to 1st January every year, when practical instruction will be given by the
Civil Veterinary Department officers on the above subjects.
The lectures on stable management and the management of stud stallions, brood mares,
and stock will be delivered in the stables and paddocks, and practical instruction in the forage
crop cultivation will be given in the fields on the farm.
2. Intimation by Revenue and Agricultural Department Circular letter
No. 42—26, dated 15th November 1892, was given to local Governments and
Administrations.
3. For the purpose of illustrating the general principles on which the
farm is worked and the results of the first year's work, the operations of the