under stress of scarcity the zammdar of Hariana was compelled to 

 sell off his young stock at unusually cheap rates, and the Lyallpur 

 colonist, in this as in other respects, profited considerably by mis- 

 fortunes of the south-eastern districts. But the surplus store was 

 soon depleted, and the demand continued to grow till prices were 

 forced to their present level. Another consequence of the keen 

 demand has been the exploitation of every available source of 

 supply, and the increasing popularity of the male buffalo as a 

 draught animal affords daily evidence of changed conditions. 

 Whether the general quality of the cattle has deteriorated is a 

 moot point. Bullocks probably as fine as any ever produced in the 

 country can still be bought and are bought daily. But the price 

 is prohibitive for all except the wealthy zamindar of the central 

 canal districts and the colonies. The quality of the average 

 bullock is probably lower than it was 20 years ago. But there is 

 no doubt that the general working capacity is far greater. The 

 inefficient tend to disappear under the stress of modern conditions. 

 There is less grazing and less fodder for the aged and infirm 

 animal, whose disposal has been facilitated by the development of 

 the cattle trade on strict commercial lines. How completely 

 business-like this trade has become under the pressure of new 

 economic forces will be apparent when we consider in detail tne 

 sources of supply and the means by which the demands of the 

 province are satisfied. 



III. DEMAND FOR DRAUGHT CATTLE. 



' According to the returns in the Crop and Season Report for 

 1908-09, the number of ploughs in the province was 2,169,085 

 and the sown area 29,298^297 acres, which gives 13J acres as the 

 average area worked by each plough. The area assigned to each 

 plough varies of course, largely from district to district according 

 as the cultivation depends on wells, canals or rainfall. Jullundur, 

 for instance, with its numerous wells requires more bullocks in 

 proportion to its cultivation than an unirrigated district like 

 Hissar, or canal- irrigated tracts like the new colonie^. 



But that the average of 13^ acres is hardly correct is shown 

 by the fact that in Lyallpur, where the strain on the bullocks is 

 perhaps heavier than in any other canal-irrigated district, the 

 landlord when leasing his land estimates that one yoke of bullocks 

 will plough half a square or 1 4 acres. The provincial average 

 may be put at 15 acres per plough, and no doubt a large number 

 of the ploughs recorded are not in use. If then we assume 15 acres 

 as the average plough unit, the number of working ploughs will 

 be 1,953,217, for which 3,906,434 oxen are required. The 



