201 



Several new beds were opened by the low^r tennis court and also 

 more on the upper lawn above the croquet lawn. 



17. Periodical dressing of Bat Guano have made the lawns 

 almost equal to English turf. 



No serious slips occured and the roads being in a bad state were 

 taken in hand towards the end of the year. 



RAINFALL. 



18. The total rainfall for the year amounted to : — 



Maxwell's Hill ... .. 201.88 inches. 



Cottage ... ... ... 282.99 



19. January was the driest month at Maxwell's Hill, with a fall 

 of 6.61 inches; and July at the Cottage with a fall of IO.05 inches. 



October was the wettest month at both stations ; at Maxwell's 

 with a fall of 3,1.08 inches and the Cottage .45.11 inches. 



CATTLE HERD. 



20. The cattle herd at Maxwell's Hill has been fairly well main- 

 tained during the year, the output of milk showing a decrease over 

 last year's returns, likewise the butter. 



This may be best explained by the changes in the official staff. 



21. Eleven calves were born during the year as follows :— 

 Australian. Indian. Half-bred. 



Cow. Bull. Cow. Bull. Cow. Bull. 

 13 2 — 41 II 



22. Four cattle died during the year. One half-bred bull calf, 

 the result of a sting, one Indian cow, the result of slipping over a rock 

 and tw^o half-bred cow calves, the result of dysentery. 



23. Dysentery appears to be a common complaint amongst the 

 cattle on the hill especially among the half-bred cow calves. 



These calves appear to be very hard to rear succpssfully when 

 young. 



24. Eleven of the herd of cattle were sold in December by public 

 auction in the Market Square, Taiping. and realised the total of 

 $186,05. 



The eleven included nine bull-calves of the two breeds and two 

 old and useless Indian cows. 



25. Cream cheese-making has been discontinued owing to poor 

 quality and no sale. 



GRASS LAND. 



26. Much has been done during the year on this important item. 

 During the early part of the year a large area of jungle was felled 

 and burned and Guinea grass planted. 



