[ 106 ] 



Cochineal was imported from Teneriffe, and tried at Bangalore, 

 but failed, apparently in consequence of defects in the local man- 

 agement. 



The experiments made in silk of the mulberry worm, as well as 

 the tasar worm, are full of promise, and, as regards the latter, 

 the only question now really remaining to be solved iis whether 

 cocoons can be j)i"ocured in quantity sufficient to meet the de- 

 mand within the limit of price which European reelers can afford 

 to give. 



The cultivation of cotton on the Egyptian system, and that of 

 Liberian coffee, have both been tried with success. 



Endeavours have been made, but as yet without success, to 

 obtain efficient rice-hulling machines, which would be very useful 

 in some parts of the country. 



On the other hand, the attemj^ts which have repeatedly been 

 made to foist elaborate agricultural machinery on the people have 

 been systematically discouraged. In a poor country like India, 

 where the rate of wage is extremely low and the holdings much 

 sub-divided, the labour-saving machinery, which is invaluable in 

 England and the United States, would be utterly useless. 



A system, not originating, however, with this Department, has been 

 cordially supported and sanctioned as an experiment under which, 

 in certain districts, the State will construct wells for agriculturists, 

 the cost being repaid to the State by instalments. 



Similarly, though not sanguine of success, this Department has 

 supported sheep-breeding in Burma, experimental farms having 

 been started at Thyet Myo and Eangoon, aided by a grant from 

 imperial revenues of 6,000 rupees for five years. Cattle have also 

 been bred on Diamond Island and Table Island. Cattle-breeding 

 in Mysore and horse-breedmg in the Punjab have been en- 

 couraged, and in Oudh, as also in Burma, a qualified veterinary 

 surgeon was deputed for some time to train native salutris (vete- 

 rinary practitioners) to treat cattle properly when attacked by 

 disease. The experiment, considering the minute scale on which 

 it was tried, has been very fairly successful. 



The appointment of a Cattle Plague Commission to investigate 

 and report upon the subject of cattle disease in India elicited a 

 voluminous report from the Commission. The establishment of 

 a Veterinary College, which project arose out of the proceedings 

 of the Commission, was frustrated, as stated in another part of 

 this paper, and there was no practical outcome of the work of the 

 Commission, except a handy manual of the more deadly forms of 

 cattle disease, of which this Department directed the preparation ; 

 a most useful work, which was widely distributed, and translations 

 of which, into the vernaculars of the country, were circulated ex- 

 tensively amongst the agricultural community. 



This manual describes the more deadly forms of plague so plainly 



