( 29A 



premium on petty fraud, and is, moreover, in my opinion, unneces- 

 sary, inasmuch as the graziers will gradually find it unprofitable to 

 pay for the upkeep of inferior beasts when they can support better 

 animals at the same cost. I hold very strongly that no improve- 

 ment is to be expected except as the result of direct encouragement 

 by the State. I do not for a moment believe that private land- 

 owners can or will improve their grazing grounds. That they 

 should do so goes without saying, but to expect that they will ever 

 have the enterprise and far-sightedness to do more than tinker with 

 such a project is to my mind the vain hope of an unwarranted 

 optimism. If the grazing be not improved, it is idle to hope for 

 an improvement of stock ; and similarly I hold that, in the interests 

 of agriculture, the State alone can improve the general quality of 

 the stock after the grazing grounds have been brought under 

 systematic control. In conjunction with, or perhaps subsequent 

 to, the conservation of the grazing areas, it would be a most bene- 

 ficial measure to start large cattle farms in which not only the 

 bulls, but also the cows should be owned by the Sta,te. With 

 scientific management and supervision it would be possible to 

 employ sound selection, and the result would be of incalculable 

 value. It is unnecessary to dilate on the prospects of such an 

 enterprise, but I hold that, if it be thought advisable to regulate 

 grazing, some scheme of cattle farming should, without question 

 be embodied in the general project. 



6. Incidental to this is the thorny question of an improved 

 milk-supply, a problem of prime importance, in urban areas. The 

 appalling rate of infant mortality even in a healthy city like 

 Etawah is, wrongly, or rightly, attributed in large measure to the 

 extreme difficulty of obtaining pure cow's milk. That this should 

 be the case in the centre of a tract which is pre-eminently fitted 

 for grazing is a fact as remarkable as it is apparent. The main- 

 tenance of a large and hygienic dairy does not fall within the scope 

 of legitimate municipal enterprise, but the problem would be 

 solved to a large extent by the establishment of a cattle farm of 

 sufficient size. I believe that d6p6ts for the sale of milk would 

 prove a profitable venture, but only in connection with a cattle 

 farm established primarily for tbe production of young stock. A 

 mere dairy might fail, to judge by the results of private enterprise, 

 but there would be no fear of such failure in a farm where the milk 

 would be regarded almost as a by-product. 



6. I am entirely in agreement with your views on the subject 

 of dry fodder and fuel and charcoal. All of these ought to be 

 abundant in this district, but all are scarce and dear. I do not pro- 

 pose to discuss the details of suggested management, as these lie 



