16
Cultivation.—Considering the difficulties which had to be contended
with, I think the results of the cultivation are satisfactory. There was insuffi-
cient rain over practically the whole area supplied by the western Jumna canal
and the supply of water here at the tail was almost always insufficient.
The little rain which did fall was of no help to the irrigated crop, as
just at that period the canal supply was sufficient. The heavy unexpected
rain in May, although of the greatest utility in bringing up grass in the Bir,
actually damaged some of the farm crops, which had just been watered from
the canals. The barani crop was a total failure.
In the month of August locusts invaded the Chhaoni cultivation, and in
spite of all efforts to destroy and limit their spread the jowar crop there,
amounting to about 120 acres, was much damaged.
Most of the kurby jowar (jowar hay) harvested as the kharif crop was
second cutting, being sown early in the hot weather and cut first for issue as a
green ration and to make ensilage.
The quantity of ensilage made was the largest for many years. The
crop of oats this year was a good deal better both in quantity and quality
but probably the bhoosa, as compared with grain, will be a little less owing
to the total absence of winter rain and the short supply of canal water.
For the 3rd year in succession for the same reasons labour was compara-
tively cheap, and desertions from the farm establishment after rain were on a
similar scale to the rainfall. These facts enabled the farm bailiff to add
considerably, by means of jungle clearance, levelling and by the digging and
raising of water-courses, to the commanded area in a condition to cultivate.
The number of men available for this work became much reduced as
scon as the grazing became insufficient, as a large proportion of the cultivation
staff were entirely occupied with the work of carting rations to stock and
purchased fodder into the hon e farm. Farm carts brought 425 loads of fodder
to the home farm from villages about 10 miles distant and 58 loads of timber
were brought in from 18 miles distant.
Five hundred young trees were planted and in spite of the bad season a
good percentage have survived, but they cannot be considered safe till they
are high enough to be out of the reach of a 16 hand bullock. Anything green
at these times proves irresistibly tempting to cattle.
The farm bailiff Mr. MacCutchan worked hard throughout the year.
Hospital—The hospital for surgical and non-contagious cases is situated
within the home farm. Considering the large number of cases dressed daily
and the large variety of animals of different sexes that it has to accommodate
it is much too small and badly arranged. A new hospital, constructed on
modern principles, with quarters attached for a resident veterinary assistant,
is now urgently required.
The number of cases dressed daily on an average was 66.79. As a rule,
cattle, sheep, goats, pony mares, donk eys and mules are all represented among
the patients at the same time.
269 bulls and 21 mules were castrated. In addition to the normal
hospital work the veterinary staff also carried out the following routine farm
operations:—
1,029 animals were branded with numbers and the farm brand.
1,176 cattle were inoculated against black quarter.
13 donkeys were inoculated against strangles.
418 young bulls and bullocks were nose-stru ng and tied up for issue.
To carry out the above operations on stock like these on the farm,
the animals have each to be caught with the lasso and then thrown, often
a matter which takes up a good deal of time. From August 4th to January
20th the veterinary staff dressed on an average 13 cases of strangles daily.