14 REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH 



Sheep- --The lambing period has been regularized and 

 limited with satisfactory results. Crossing with Dhumba 

 and half-bred Gorakhpore Dhumba rams has been con- 

 tinued. Two Merino rams have been imported for the im- 

 provement of the quality of the wool. Some time must 

 elapse before results of any value can be obtained. The 

 first cross between the Gorakhpore and Dhumba breeds, 

 however, results in an improved mutton sheep. Gorakhpore 

 ewes are still used as the female parents in these experi- 

 ments. 



Poultry. — The three breeds, White Wyandotte, Buff 

 Orpington and Chittagong, having proved the hardiest and 

 best generally of the large number of varieties tried at 

 Pusa, it has been decided to maintain these and the 

 Mammoth Bronze Turkeys on certain of the Provincial 

 farms and they are being distributed accordingly; new 

 blood will be supplied from England when necessary. The 

 only breed maintained at Pusa in the immediate future 

 will be the Buff Orpingtons. 



IV. — Pastures. 



Pastures. — A great improvement has been made in the 

 grazing of both the low-lying and higher pasture areas 

 through topping the grasses before seeding time with hay 

 mowers and occasionally harrowing down the cattle drop- 

 pings. The effect of rolling, except on newly laid out pas- 

 tures, is slight. 



The economics of laying land down to pasture are being 

 studied. A collection of the more valuable indigenous pas- 

 ture grasses has been made. These are at present being 

 grown as pure cultures. 



V. — Clearing and Levelling. 



Clearing and Levelling- — Thirty acres of land in the 

 low-lying brick-field area have been reclaimed. A con- 

 siderable amount of levelling has been done in the more 

 suitable fields with a view to increasing the experimental 

 area which is at present very inadequate. 



