642 
Supplement to the ''Tropical Agriculturist." [March l f 1895. 
animals, by giving them 1 ecasionul bat lis and hous- 
ing ill cm ii'i clean sheds. Being a contagiousdisease, 
animals affected should be separated from the 
healthy ones. Regular bathing, washing with 
some non-poisonous disinfectant, such as a solu- 
tion of Jeye's disinfectant fluid, or a strong 
solution of salt- in water — and in severe cases a 
dressing with sulphur ointment, consisting of 
one part of sulphur to sight of lard, — are suffi- 
cient to effect a thorough cure. Young calves 
that are attacked should have ample supplies 
of nutritious diet such as rice conjee and holla 
water prepared by boiling the seeds of Doliehot 
Bifloms in water. 
'Phthiriases (Lousiness I.— It often happens when 
a large number of cattle, especially young calves 
are housed together, and particularly those 
breeds as have compa itively long hair, they 
often get infested with ijce. It has to be borne in 
mind that this vermin multiplies tosuch an extent- 
one authority estimate, that a single louse in its 
third generation would give rise to a progeny 
of over 12o,0y0, — that the animals thus infested 
are put to a deal of suffering, and unless proper 
measures are taken to remove the parasite, they 
get weakened and ultimately become unthrifty. 
The species of the louse that infects cattle in this 
country, and which was observed among some 
of the' dairy calves is known as Trichodectes 
scalaries. It is so active that it causes much 
itching and the skin is covered not only with 
exudations, but t he hair becomes filled with the 
debris which the insect leaves in moulting. 
Treatment.— Clipping off the long hair and 
cleanliness are two ihings which should not 
be neglected in coping with this disorder. In 
addition. the application of any ordinary 
insecticide will be sufficient to put an end to the 
lice. In the use of insecticide care must be 
taken to avoid mercurial preparations as cattle 
are very susceptible to the action of this drug. 
Infusion of Tobacco, Linseed Oil, Pyrethrunl or 
seeds of Stavesacre may be lifted with advantage. 
W. A. D. S. 
rOONA FARM REPORT. 
From the exhaustive repoit of Mr. Mollison, the 
Superintendent of the Poona farm, we extract the 
following reference to the Dairy and Dairy 
Herd:— , 
At the end of the financial year there were 
three stud bulls, 68 milch animals, and 97 head 
of young stock. The herd increased from 128 head 
ia '1892-93 to 170 head this year. There Were 
27 animals sold and 42 bought, whilst there were 
60 births and 11 deaths, the latter being most 
calves of purchased animals. 
The dairy produce from 68 milk cattle was 
sold during' Ibis year for Rs. 14,701-11-3. Cattle 
food, fedder, and grazing cost Rs. 9,358-6-2. The 
herd was quite free from contagious disease. 
The daily has proved itself a profitable institution. 
Not only so, but the sick soldiers in hospitals 
are supplied with purer and cheaper milk and 
butter than can be obtained elsewhere. The 
saving to Government on this account is consider- 
able. ° The public are supplied from the dairy at 
jates fixed purposely higher than the prices 
charged by private dairymen in Poona, yet during 
the year we have had numerous applications from 
private residents for a regular supply of dairy 
produce, which could not be complied with. Those 
people who huv« young children appear to be 
particularly anxious that they should obtain 
milk from the Government farm, lf the Outer u- 
meiit dairy interferes in any way with the trade 
of private dairies, it is because the public 
demand a higher standard of cleanliness tiiuii 
that which prevails in some of the dairies es- 
tablished by private enterprise in Poona and 
elsewhere. There is no question that the initiative 
example of the Agricult ural department has raised 
the quality standard of dairy products throiighuot 
this presidency, and has educated the Kuropenn 
public to become critical as to the quality of dairy 
produce. It is perhaps a healthy siyn that butter 
of inferior quality is veetoed, whilst that of 
superior quality is bought up rapidly at almost 
any price. In course of time, good butter will 
undoubtedly be obtained in India at a cheaper 
rate than at present. The extended use of im- 
proved dairy machinery has made it possible to 
make butter in Bombay and elsewhere from cream 
separated in districts where milk is cheap. 
At present the advantage to the milk producer 
in outlying districts is considerable: but it is 
considerably greater to the dairyman. He obtains 
for good butter about double the ordinary price 
of ghi. Well-made butter yields approximately 
only 80 per cent of ghi. In time the profits will 
be more equalized. Meantime, the owner of im- 
proved dairy machinery drives a lucrative trade. 
This is evidenced by the fact that butter made 
in Bombay from cream obtained from distant 
districts is railed daily to Poona and several 
outstations in large quantities, and is offered for 
• sale ill attractive looking " pats '' at bungalows 
• and, presumably, is readily sold, the price being 
'• 12 annas a pound. 
1 believe the Government Farm Dairy stimu- 
lates private enterprise.' It also affords thorough 
practical tuition free of cost to all who desire 
to tie properly instructed in improved dairy 
methods. We insist, however, that those who 
come to learn must not be mere onlookers. They 
must work. 
The young stock bred on the farm are commen- 
cing to come into profit. It is premature to 
anticipate results. Yet the milk yields from these 
young cows force the conviction that they are 
likely to prove superior to their dams as milch 
cattle. It is the chief object of our breeding 
experiments to gain that result. 
There is very little to add to the information 
already published in respect of dairy cattle. I 
am certain that a great deal of success in dairying 
in India hinges upon the possibility of providing 
milk cattle with a fairly liberal supply of green 
fodder during the whole year. A liberal ration 
of green fodder increases the milk yield, but it 
lowers the quality. It has that effect at any 
rate in respect of the percentage of butter fat. 
If a fair allowance of green fodder is regularly 
given, cows and buffaloes, especially the former, 
come sooner in season for the bull after calving, 
and, therefore, breed more regularly than would 
otherwise be the case. 
Gir cows iu the Deccan are disappointing as 
regular breeds and as regular milk producers. 
Under the most skilful management, they do not 
yield the same quantity of milk as they do iu the 
