2

the cadre by 8 men annually; but now each individual case has to be reported
to government for orders. This has resulted in checking the expansion of the
department. The actual increase of veterinary assistants has been as
follows:—

I hope this is only a temporary check, for in all the centre of the
province there is a great popular demand for more hospitals and for these
we need more men. Cattle owners will not, and indeed in many cases cannot,
take their animals long distances to hospitals, and if we are to extend the
advantages of our treatment, and more especially if castration by excision
is to displace the present cruel practice of mulling, hospitals should not be
more than 20 miles apart.

See statements VI-A and VI-B.

5.    The district boards are in most cases following a liberal policy in
veterinary matters, but some must be
named here in the hope that they will
be moved to do more. The Rohtak district has hitherto been one of the great
breeding districts, but now nothing is done to provide good bulls, and the
superintendent reports that it is being outstripped in point of quality of
stock by the neighbouring districts of Hissar and Gurgaon. Here the district
board might well supply 15 or 20 balls a year, but in 1912-13 only one was
bought and in 1913-14 none. Karnal has not yet built hospitals at Panipat
and Ladwa. Multan has still to build hospitals at Lodhran, Shujabad and
Mailsi: they spend money on horse-breeding in Multan, but do little for
cattle breeding which after all needs the greater assistance as the poor depend
on it, whereas horse breeding is the profitable occupation of the rich. Dera
Ghazi Khan has to build a hospital at Sanghar and might improve the
valuable Dajil breed by securing more careful selection of both bulls and cows.

The thanks of government are due to the large number of charitable
men who have come forward to build hospitals at their own expense.

6.    It is most important that patwaris should be induced to report
outbreaks of disease immediately and in all cases. There is no doubt whatever
that many outbreaks are not reported at all and very many are reported
too late. I hope deputy commissioners will insist on this part of the patwaris'
duties.

7.    Lieutenant-colonel Farmer's note on sheep-breeding is being
printed separately. As to cattle breeding, I wrote a note last year shewing
what had been done in each district since 1911 and that note will this year
be brought up to date. The limitations of space do not allow of cattle and
sheep breeding being adequately dealt with in this report.

8.    Mr. Branford has done very well at Hissar. The farm has just
sold a bull for Rs. 1,300 to Brazil which is the highest price yet paid.

                                                                 W. S. HAMILTON,
                                          Director of Agriculture and Industries, Punjab.