11
(2) A violent hailstorm on the 10th of May completely destroyed what
green jowar crop there was on 3 of the 5 cultivation blocks.
The storm was something altogether out of the common, and
destroyed almost every living unsheltered thing in its tract,
including some livestock and human beings.
3. The storm was not an unmixed evil, as in lowlying places where
the storm water collected a little grass sprouted, and sufficient grazing became
available to induce the cattle to move about in the Bir, and not spend their
time lying outside their lines waiting for the next feed.
The total amount of fodder purchased was 22,037 maunds (maund
=82 lbs.). Six thousand maunds over my estimate had to be obtained to replace
green jowar destroyed by hail.
4. The rainfall during August, September and the first half of October
was unusually heavy. Nearly 10 inches fell between the 6th and 10th August
causing considerable floods and some damage to crops. From August to the
end of the year there was ample grazing and from then on stock did well.
On the whole the year has been a prosperous one, receipts amounting
to Rs. 1,24,853.
5. The year was a good one for fodder crops and bay, and 71,760
maunds of farm-grown fodder and hay were carried forward to reserve at the
end of the year.
In spite of the good rains, however, the growth of grass over large areas
of the Bir was disappointing ; some of the areas where hay can generally be
made produced nothing but weeds. The growth of weeds was everywhere
unusually luxuriant especially in August and the first half of September.
Of the fodder saved during the year 24,122 maunds was hay. Probably
this amount could have been increased to about 30,000 maunds without unduly
encroaching on areas reserved for grazing, had it been possible to obtain suffici-
ent labour in the autumn. But a combination of circumstances aggravated the
labour difficulty, which is always acute in the autumn after good rains.
(a) Late rain in September and October postponed the main hay
making season till Kharif harvesting and Rabi sowing had
become general in the district, attracting labour away from the
farm.
(b) The farm itself had an unusually large area of cultivated fodder
crop to harvest.
(c) Malarial fever, as usual, was very prevalent. At any time in the
autumn after good rains a considerable proportion of men will
be found down with fever. Some are prevented from work
altogether.
(d) Recruiting for the army has been heavy in this district and has
diminished the supply of labour.
Still 70,000 maunds over and above fodder consumed during the year
is a respectable figure, considerably more than the total fodder purchased last
year, which was probably the worst year for fodder on record.
If normal conditions prevail during 1917-18 reserve fodder at the end
of the year should amount to over one lakh of maunds.
Contagious diseases.
6. On the whole the year was fortunate, the farm remaining free
from sheep-scab, rinderpest and strangles. The
following diseases occurred :—
(a) Blackquarter -Accounted for the death of five animals as against
19 last year.
(b) Contagious pneumonia.— An outbreak of this disease occurred in
the rains amongst donkey colts. A report of it has been pub-
lished in the Agricultural Journal of India, Volume XII, Part
2. One animal died of the disease.