38
mares is steadily improving owing to farm bred fillies being added. Sanction has
been received to gradually increase the number of mares to 100 by the addition
of farm bred fillies. There were 34 births during the year, 17 colts and 17
fillies, a very fair percentage. The system of turning loose a jack with a num-
ber of mares commenced in Colonel Morgan's time is still adopted with good
results.
277. Donkey Colts.—There were 58 present at the beginning of the year
and 17 were born. Of these 4 died, 1 was destroyed and 15 were issued as Jacks
to the Army Remount Department and District Boards. No purchases were
made.
278. Donkey fillies.—There were 39 at the end of the year and 17 were
born. Of these 2 died, 1 was cast and 10 were transferred to donkey mares,
leaving a balance of 43 at the end of the year. The donkey breeding operations
continue to be very successful and the stock is yearly improving.
279. Pony mares for mule breeding.—Thirty-eight were present at the
beginning of the year and 1 died, leaving 37 at the end. The results have been
very much better this year, 22 births being recorded, or 59.4 per cent. If we
could manage to maintain this percentage of foalings it would be well worth
our while to increase our pony mare stock. I am inclined to do so next year,
but shall wait to see what the prospects are before doing so.
280. Sheep breeding.—The total number of sheep present last year was
238 ewes and 248 lambs. 195 lambs were born, 117 died, 2 were destroyed and
90 were sold, leaving a balance of 333 ewes and 158 lambs at the end of the year.
Sheep breeding, with a view to improving the yield and quality of the wool, is
being carried out and the operations so far promise very well indeed. The
owes are divided into four flocks, two of which are being graded up to the
Merino. We have one flock with the Dumba and another with the Bikanir
Leicester as well as a small flock of pure Merinos. The experiments so far
made prove that ordinary wool-bearing sheep pay very well, that the Dumba
cross improves the size and shape of the Bikanir sheep and makes very good
mutton as does also the Bikanir Leicester. There is already a very considerable
improvement in the yield and quality of the wool in the Merino cross and this
will doubtless improve when the flock is graded up closer to the Merino. The
Merino flock is doing very well indeed so far, and permission has been obtained
to add 20 more ewes and 4 more flock rams with a view to supplying some of
the requirements in the districts of the Punjab Himalayas. The Merino wool
is of fine grade but very greasy and loses much in scouring. Local purchasers
at present only bid Rs. 10-8-0 a maund for Merino wool, whilst ordinary
Country wool fetches Rs. 24 a maund: when it is considered, however, that the
yield from the former is 8 times as great as from a country sheep it will be
seen that it is infinitely more profitable. The amount of wool sold during the
year was 10 maunds, 24 seers and the price obtained was Rs. 268-14-6.
281. The accommodation for sheep is being much improved, old stockyards
being used for the purpose.
282. Cultivation.—The cultivation operations on the Farm have been
very greatly handicapped owing, in the autumn of last year, to severe fever
and to shortage of labour. The splendid rains which fell were not
therefore an unmixed blessing. The crops in the neighbourhood were
very good and labor being so scarce farmers were paying very high
wages. In these circumstances we naturally suffered considerably, nearly half
our establishment absconding and the work being correspondingly hampered.
It became obvious that if we did not offer some inducement to our men to
stop we should lose them all. This was especially annoying as we had a very
large area under a very good crop of Jowar and any amount of hay, if we
could only save it. Mr. Burke had a very trying time. The crop from the
cultivated land was eventually got in. But our farm operations suffered.
Notwithstanding this, a good area was prepared for sowing. Major Farmer
has shown great energy since his return, especial attention being given to the