12
Administration.
70. Fodder supply.—The arrangements were very satisfactory. In addi-
tion to what was collected from the Laboratory area, hay was purchased in
large quantities from villagers.
Supply of hill animals.—Owing to the shortage in the supply from the
Kumaon Division, a new area—Garhwal District—has been opened, and ani-
mals are being received from there in small batches. On account of the great
distance of the seat of purchase from the Laboratory, it takes three weeks for
hill bulls to arrive at Muktesar.
Forests and fuel.—The fuel supply was obtained from the Muktesar Re-
served Forest. Its administration under the forest rules was carried on suc-
cessfully, there being no illicit fellings nor fires within the Reserve. The sow-
ing of seed in the Nurseries and planting of one year old plants was carried on
as usual. On the recommendation of Forest Officers, one of the Forest Guards
was deputed for an eight months' course of training in the Provincial Forest
School at Dehra Dún.
71. Bareilly Branch Laboratory.—The Depôt remained open during the
winter months—a period of 5 months. In addition to the experiments
referred to in paragraph 59, the usual work of serum testing, training of
Veterinary Assistants, researches on Surra treatment, etc., was carried out.
The Laboratory area was found too confined, hence ground had to be rented
and temporary grass sheds erected for cattle under experiment.
72. As already noted, the whole staff—superior and subordinate—have
had very hard work throughout the year, indeed the pressure at times has been
so great that a number of members of the staff have had to be employed from
daylight to dark daily, including Sundays and Gazetted holidays. The Im-
perial Bacteriologist records his appreciation of the excellent work and co-
operation of the whole staff and I have much pleasure in endorsing his
remarks.
Much credit is due to Majors Holmes and Baldrey, Mr. Cross and Dr.
Hartley for having, under trying circumstances, accomplished so much during
the year.
GOVERNMENT CATTLE FARM, HISSAR.
73. Lieut.-Colonel J. Farmer held charge throughout the year under
report. The operations at the Farm have on the whole been successful.
74. It was handed over temporarily to the Civil Veterinary Department
on the 1st April 1899 and was transferred permanently to the Department
on the 1st April 1910. There is no denying that during the abovenamed
period, the Farm in its various branches has been vastly improved, and finan-
cially it is perhaps now in a more satisfactory state than at any time during
its history.
Conditions, however, exist which render it almost impossible to make
the Farm all that could be desired. It is most unfortunate that at the time
the Farm was started, those responsible failed to close all public highways
passing through the acquired tract of country. The result of such an omis-
sion has made the charge of the Hissar Farm both an anxious and highly
responsible one. It is hardly necessary to state that efforts to prevent the
introduction of contagious disease into an area unfenced and through which
public roads exist is a big problem. To endeavour when disease appears, to
confine it within certain limits (a matter of the utmost importance), is no
easy matter. Local precautions are rarely perfect, and of themselves effec-
tive, in checking the spread of disease into healthy localities. Every effort is
made to intercept and if possible impound cattle from villages in the vicinity
of the Bir which may have strayed, or which is more likely have purposely
been driven there. In spite of all possible precautions, with disease at times
prevailing all around, infection through the agency of diseased animals from
without occurs from time to time. Owing to unremitting attention the out-
breaks are few, and in recent years the Farm has escaped the severe ravages
committed by contagious maladies in days gone by. During the year, cases