March 189G.] 



GENERAL AGRICULTURAL NOTES. 



447 



korse in the Colony is about 40 guineas. The Government, 

 in consequence of the information so received, have come to a 

 resolution to encourage in every possible way the export of 

 this class of horses to London, and they are prepared to assist a 

 shipment at an early date. Attention has also been drawn to 

 the enormous prices given in India for carriage horses (in pairs). 

 It appears that the rajahs and nabobs give large sums of money 

 for high action horses of this class (in pairs). Cavalry chargers 

 were also in request. The Agricultural and Lands Departments of 

 New Zealand will, it is reported, make all the necessary inquiries 

 iiipon the subject. 



The Russian Budget of 1896. 



In the report of the Russian Minister of Finance on the 

 Budget of 1896, which was published in a recent number of the 

 Journal de St. Petershoiirg, the provision for the; work of the 

 Ministry of Agriculture and Domains amounted to 3,396,7 98L 

 Of this sum, the cost of administration is put down at 

 1,024,726^., the amount devoted to the central administration 

 being 140,356/., and to the local administration 884,370/. The 

 item for constructional works, cost of material, labour, &c., 

 amounts to 1,391,397^. The provincial land taxes and communal 

 shares in connection with the State lauds and forests are allowed 

 for to the extent of 368,177/. The provision for schools, and for 

 model farms and model establishments for agriculture, forestry, 

 and mines amounted to 183,063/., and the sum devoted to 

 endowments was 187,016/. The sum set aside for loans for 

 agricultural improvements was 52,777/. Various expenses and 

 an appropriation for the immediate necessities of 1897, amounted 

 to 189,640/. 



The above amounts have been converted into English currency 

 on the assumption that 1*50 paper roubles are equal to a gold 

 rouble of the value of 3s. 2d. 



An Indian Agricultural Conference. 



The Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal has appointed a com- 

 mittee to meet Sir Edward Buck, Secretary to the Government 

 of India, now on special duty, for the discussion of the subjects 

 with which his mission is concerned. According to the Calcutta 

 Englishman, these include the various questions dealt with in 

 the report submitted to the Government of India by Dr. Voelcker 

 the special commissioner sent out to India to advise the Govern- 

 ment on agricultural matters. Dr. Yoelcker's report was con- 

 sidered two years ago by a conference at which all local 



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