INSTITUTE AND COLLEGE, PUSA, FOR 1907-09. 



29 



dysentery from which 30 died in a short time. The re- 

 mainder, however, are now doing well. They are being 

 crossed by a diimha ram by which means it is hoped to 

 obtain greater hardiness, constitution and earlier matur- 

 ity. Attention will also be paid to maintaining the quality 

 of the wool by careful selection. 



Poultry breeding is now conducted on a fairly large 

 scale. During the last year there have been 19 pens of 

 fowls representing 10 pure breeds and 3 crosses. It is 

 too soon yet to say how the imported fowls will do. The 

 difficulties of disease and pests incident to the introduction 

 of Western live stock of any sort into India, have had to be 

 faced, and they have been formidable. In the light of the 

 experience already gained, arrangements have been made 

 which will obviate some of the difficulties encountered. 

 Again, many of the more recently produced breeds of fowl 

 are partly of Eastern origin, and for this reason and because 

 of the greater vitality which has resulted from their mixed 

 origin, adapt themselves with greater readiness to Indian 

 conditions. The great fecundity of fowls, as compared 

 with larger animals, is another factor in their favour. 

 But, while there will always be a demand on the part of 

 fanciers for pure breeds, there is little doubt that the 

 breed of fowl fully suited to India will have to be built up 

 in India, and with this end in view various crosses are 

 being tried at Pusa. 



10. General Improvement of the Estate. — Fully 100 

 acres have been added to the cultivated area. Much still 

 remains to be done in the way of reclamation, but the back 

 of the work has been broken, and as soon as sufficient work- 

 cattle are obtained, this kind of work will soon be brought 

 to a conclusion. 



11. Programme for 1909-10. — The permanent manu- 

 rial and rotation and the permanent pasture experiments 

 will be continued. Experimental work on flax will be 

 continued. Work on sugarcane will be continued. Barley, 

 maize, sorghum, cow-pea, rice and castor varieties will be 

 tested. 



