456 MANUAL OF THE NILAGIRI DISTKICT. 



CH. XXVII. barley, and crops ?^ these species are said to be still grown, 

 Agriculture though the grain has degenerated greatly either from climate or 

 hybridisation with the indigenous species. Vetches he also intro- 

 duced, but the system of cattle-feeding prevailing among the 

 Badagas does not necessitate the growth of fodder crops, and so 

 the cultivation ceased. He appears also to have tried the culture 

 of flax and hemp, for which the Hills are well suited. His experi- 

 ments were chiefly confined to the plateau, but he also established 

 a garden in the neighbourhood of Kalhatti. 

 Mr. S. R. On Mr. Sullivan's departure, the Governor, Mr. S- R. Lushing- 

 farm^af*^*^'^ ton, brought the resources of Government to his aid in experi- 

 Kaity. mental English farming, and also ofl"ered the assistance of Govern- 

 ment to Anglo-Indians who were willing to colonize the Hills. In 

 April 1830 he established an experimental farm at Kaity, taking 

 up Badaga lands for the purpose in a high-handed manner, which, 

 after his departure, was the subject of a severe censure from the 

 Court of Directors, who ordered the lands to be restored and ample 

 compensation to be given to the landholders for loss of profits 

 whilst their lands were improperly appropriated. Money however 

 was not easily obtained, and accordingly the Government early ia» 

 1830 ordered two companies of tent lascars to proceed to the 

 Hills for the purpose of relieving some of the people employed 

 in protecting and improving the Government property at that 

 station. They were placed under the orders of the Commissariat 

 Officer, Major Crewe. About the same time orders were issued for 

 the establishment of a store of implements of husbandry and horti- 

 culture at the Commissariat Depot, such implements to be sold at 

 prime cost to the public until they could be procured from other 

 sources. The implements forwarded included light ploughs, 

 wheel-barrows, rakes, &c. The articles were supplied from the 

 Grazing Farm in Mysore. The history of the Kaity farm project 

 I quote from the report of the Committee appointed to inquire 

 into the progress of the Hills ^ on the eve of Mr. Lushingtou's 

 departure. They write : — 

 Committee's " The Committee have gone over the portions of the land which have 

 report. ]3gg^^ placed under Major Crewe's superintendence and control for the 

 purposes of experiments in agriculture and horticulture in the Kaity 

 valley. It is stated by Major Crewe that these experiments were 

 commenced ucder his superintendence in the month of April 1830. 

 The Committee found that fields to a considerable extent have been 

 broken up in the English style of farming with ploughs of the English 

 shape and by means of cattle trained for the purpose. Some of these 

 fields have been planted with potatoes ; othei-s, on a smaller scale, have 

 been laid out in wheat, oats, and barley, and more are now under 



» E.M.C, .Military neputiiiieiit. .>i!i (Vtol)or 18.32. 



