94 INSTRUCTIONAL WORK BY A.V.S. 



question, it is not only a step in the right direction, but it has 

 come to stay, and it will bear good healthy fruit. 



I know of no better direction in which this policy can be 

 considered in India, nor where greater necessity for instruction 

 and enlightenment exists, than in Agriculture and Animal 

 Husbandry. I have grouped the two together, as obviously they 

 are co-related, and I have used the term Animal Husbandry 

 advisedly, as it covers everything that appertains to the breed- 

 ing, raising and care of stock. 



The majority of our Indian soldiers are drawn from the 

 .Zemindar class. If, therefore, we can by some simple process 

 give them the benefit of our experience and of progressive 

 ideas with regard to agriculture and the management of stock, 

 we are not only enriching the individual, but helping the 

 -country to an incalculable degree. I should like to speak with 

 no uncertain tone in this matter, and as one who is brought 

 face to face with the necessity that something should be done 

 to improve the lot, and reduce the suffering and loss of animals 

 in India. In the section " Wastage of Animals in War " I 

 •showed, as briefly as I could, the serious amount of loss 

 resulting in the Army from dire contagious anirhal diseases. 

 This is nothing to what occurs in Civil Communities in India, 

 upon which the Army is dependent for its Transport and 

 Food supply. 



In the Civil Veterinary Statistical Eeturns for year 1917-18, 

 -3175 Equines, 249,010 Bovines and 22,375 other animals are 

 shown as having died from Contagious Disease alone. In the 

 year 1918-19, 933 Equines, 228,414 Bovines and 12,858 others 

 are similarly shown, and Eeports at the same time make it 

 quite certain that owing to the weakness of the cadre of the 

 Civil Veterinary Department, and the inadequacy of the 

 machinery necessary for complete control, full mortality is 

 not recorded. 



Anyone who visits the Imperial City of Delhi and sees the 

 miserable tonga and gharry ponies, requiring the lakri and 

 chabuk to accelerate their movements, cannot but be struck at 

 the backwardness of the country in respect to its animals. 

 India has made very rapid strides in Agriculture during the 

 past ten years, but the Animal Husbandry side of Agriculture 



