9
It seems necessary that in view of the present congestion of the hospital
and the inadequacy of the staff, the recommendations of the Conference should
be given effect to as early as possible.
CONFERENCE FOR GARDEN SCHEME.
In order to devise means to make the hospital self-supporting so far as
possible in respect of daily supplies of vegetables, a second conference consis-
ting of the following officers of the Government of Bihar and Orissa was held
on the 31st August 1926 at this hospital during the year under review :—
1. The Hon'ble Minister, Local Self-Government Department.
2. Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals, Bihar and Orissa.
3. Director of Agriculture, Bihar and Orissa.
4. Secretary, Finance Department,
5. Secretary, Education Department.
6. Secretary, Local Self-Government Department.
7. Deputy Director of Agriculture, Kanke.
8. Chief Engineer, Roads and Buildings.
9. Superintendent, Indian Mental Hospital.
As it was not known what vegetables could be grown on the Kanke soil
or whether potatoes can be grown at all, the Committee were of opinion that
growing of vegetables on an extensive scale at Kanke could only be regarded
as an experiment. It was considered that the only feasible method of proceed-
ing with it was to obtain the services of an expert Gardener who could be
put in charge of the experiment. The Director of Agriculture consented to
lend the services of an officer of his department who has had considerable
experience and success of growing vegetables. This officer, who was then on
sick leave, joined on the 24th September, About 80 acres of land, which was
made over by the Public Works Department and the Agricultural Farm, were
laid out from this time with the help of about 200 patients and some paid coolies.
Leveling of the land was done by contract system. It was a very difficult task
to bring the area into the state of cultivation as the land was full of brick-kilns,
rocks, pits, etc. Laying out of the land has however been completed in 1927.
There is a great scarcity of manures at Kanke and in the surrounding
villages. It is very expensive to get manure from Ranchi. There also
sufficient quantity of manure was not available. Hence costly chemical
manures have to be supplemented and their use must be continued
till the soil condition is brought under control. The result of night soil is
satisfactory but as major portions of it are dumped into the septic tanks which
are scattered over the hospital area the full quantity of effluent from
the septic tanks cannot be utilised for the hospital garden.
A new tank has been dug within the garden area and the existing tank has
been made deeper by further excavation. These tanks will be used for irriga-
tion when necessary as well as for fish breeding.
The full requirement of the hospital in respect of vegetables has been
supplied by the hospital vegetable garden daily from 1st April 1927. The
daily requirement is approximately 9 maunds. During the year under review
486 maunds of vegetables were supplied.
Considerable improvement has been effected in the flower gardens inside
and outside the hospital enclosures. Perenial plants and shrubs have been
planted. Many young plants were nurtured in the hospital nursery in order
to reduce the cost of expenditure in purchasing the same.