Jan.  I,  1896.] 
Supplemoit  to  the  ‘‘  Tropical  Agriculturist." 
501 
TIIK  KEliDING  Ol’  ANLMALS. 
“Jt  is  obvious  1.lmt  so  long  as  a couuLi'y  is 
sparsely  populated  and  the  needs  ot  the  peo[de  are 
amply  su[)plied  under  a comparative  rude  system 
of  agriculture,  in  which  e.vtended  area  precludes 
the  necessity  for  improved  methods,  there  would 
he  little  either  of  scope  or  of  inducement  to  study 
economy  in  the  feeding  of  animals,  or  systematic 
practice  in  regard  to  it.  But  as  population 
increases  in  proportion  to  area,  there  arises  the 
necessity  for  increased  production  over  a given 
area.” — {Lcnces  Gilbert.) 
The  condition  of  native  agriculture  in  Ceylon 
has  been  such  that  the  needs  of  the  ])eoi)le 
have  hitherto  been  amply  supplied  by  a compara- 
tive rude  system  of  rural  economy.  But  it  is  clear 
that  as  tlie  popidation  increases  and  the  area 
under  cultivation  becomes  limited,  such  a happy 
state  of  affairs  cannot  continue,  and  unless 
attem])ts  are  made  to  grow  a greater  variety  of 
crops,  and  some  attention  is  given  to  the  such 
important  (piestions  as  the  manuring  of  land  and 
the  supply  of  “artificial”  food  for  animals,  the 
lot  of  the  peasant  farmer  must  before  long 
become  a very  wretched  one. 
The  rude  system  of  managing  land  and  stock  at 
present  in  vogue  will  have  to  be  gradually 
improved,  if  such  a I’esult  is  to  be  prevented. 
To  the  feeding  of  animals  we  are  aware  that  the 
native  cultivator  pays  little  if  any  attention, 
allowing  the  stock  under  his  care  to  roam  about 
in  search  of  natural  pasture  and  forage  for 
themselves  as  best  thej'  cam  But  the  area  under 
natural  pasture  is  becoming  diminished,  and  even 
the  grass  that  is  found  in  such  land  as  is  yet 
available  has  a tendency  to  become  deteriorated. 
And,  indeed,  the  results  of  these  changes 
are  before  us.  Years  ago,  there  wove  many 
districts  in  the  Island  which  raised  a strong  and 
healthy  breed  of  cattle  and  buffaloes,  and  where 
the  cows  yielded  a fair  supply  of  milk.  Any  of 
the  o'lder  inhabitants  of  these  once-favoured 
districts  will  bear  testimony  to  the  degeneration 
that  has  taken  ])lace.  Strong  healthy  bulls  and 
buffaloes  fire  now  rarely  met  with,  having  been 
replaced  by  an  unthrifty,  undersized  breed.  The 
mild)  cattle  now  hai'dly  sujiply  sullicient  milk  to 
make  it  worth  one’s  while  to  di’aw'  it.  The  native 
cultivator,  as  is  well  known,  does  not  recognize  the 
value  of  cattle  manui’e,  and  though  unable  to 
ascribe  a cause,  he  sees  his  lands  getting  ])00i'cr 
day  by  day.  As  it  is  lieyond  his  jiower  to  account 
for  this  change  for  the  worso,  he  will  alternately 
blame  the  seasons  and  the  weather,  Imt  it  often 
hapjiens  that  he  is  so  resigned  to  his  fate  that  ho 
makes  no  attem[)t  to  discover  any'  Cfiuse  for  the 
disappointing  results  of  his  operations.  In  some 
cases,  he  becomes  so  despondent,  that  he  loses 
all  energy,  and  considering  it  hopeless  to  attempt 
to  bring  about  a better  condition  of  things,  he  dis- 
poses of  the  few'  cattle  ho  jios.sesses  and  iibaudons 
his  bit  of  land.  Xow’,  it  is  clear  tluit  the  native 
cultivator  must  be  made  to  recognize  the  necessity 
for  increased  production  over  a given  areti  for  the 
introduction  of  a variety  of  crops  so  as  to  supply 
food  for  man  and  beast.  But  it  is  only  gradually' 
that  his  mind  can  be  trained  to  think  in  this  way, 
by' instilling  into  him  the  principles  of  the  art 
which  he  professes  to  practise.  Take  the  case  of 
the  feeding  of  stock,  which  is  so  important  a 
paatter,  since  the  success  of  the  agriculturist, 
particularly  in  the  East,  depends  so  much  on  the 
condition  and  capabilities  of  his  animals.  It 
should  be  recognised  that  animals  have  to  be  fed 
differently  for  the  different  functions  they'  are 
expected  to  p'erform,  whether  for  the  ptrociuctiou 
of  me;it  or  milk  or  manure,  or  for  the  exercise 
of  force. 
Certain  foods  are  characterised  by  thepn'esence  of 
some  of  the  essential  ingredients  greatly'  in  excess 
of  others,  so  that  from  an  economical  point  of  view 
and  also  for  producing  the  best  effects  of  feeding, 
mixed  diets  are  necessary ; and  in  order  to  mi.x 
foods  ])roporly',  the  composition  and  cost  of 
various  foods  should  be  taken  into  consideration. 
But  before  deciding  uiion  certain  mi.xtures  wo 
should  keep  in  view  what  is  expected  of  the 
animal,  whether  milk,  meat  or  energy',  and  with 
a full  knowledge  of  the  capabilities  of  the  various 
foods  to  help  in  producing  these,  we  should  mix 
accordingly. 
(To  be  continued.) 
NOTES  I'TtOM  THE  POONA  FAIEM. 
1 trust  the  follow'ing  notes  culled  on  my  late 
visit  to  the  Poona  Farm  will  interest  your  readers. 
The  Superintendent,  iMr,  Mollison,  so  well-known 
in  Ceylon  by'  name,  is  considered  an  authority  on 
Agi'icultnre  in  India. 
Of  the  Improved  Ploughs  Mi'.  Mollison  prefers 
the  Turnw'i’est  to  all  the  others  for  general  use  in 
India.  It  is  interesting  to  watch  how  this 
plough  is  worked  at  the  Farm.  Two  pairs  of  good 
strong  Gir  bulls  y'oked  one  pair  behind  the  other 
arc  used  for  draw'ing  it.  The  ploughing  being 
begun  at  one  end  of  the  field,  after  each  furrow 
is  iTiade  the  animals  are  turned  short  and  the  next 
furrow  is  taken  just  beside  the  former  one  without 
leaving  any  sjiace  betw’een  them,  so  that  the  furrow' 
slice  from  each  regularly  covers  the  preceding 
furi-ow.  Of  course  at  each  turn  the  mould-board 
and  share  are  turned  to  the  furrow  side.  The 
ploughing  thus  begun  at  one  side  of  the  field  is 
finished  right  at  the  other  without  any'  un- 
ploughed strip  of  land  being  left  in  the  middle; 
and  the  headlands  are  ploughed  last  of  all. 
'2.  The  Gir  bulls  used  in  the  plough  are  the 
ones  kept  for  breeding  purposes.  They  are 
worked  in  the  morning  ami  evening  and  allowed 
to  rest  dui'ing  the  middle  of  the  day  when  the 
sun  is  powerful.  The  animals  are  all  the  better 
for  the  moderate  exercise  they'  got  in  this  way, 
and  ate  I hereby  better  fitteil  lo  do  their  work 
as  stud  bulls  than  they  would  be  when  allowed 
(o  remain  iillo.  Besides,  when  four  animals  are 
y.fived  t.ogether,  the  draught  is  so  well  divided 
among  them  that  the  strain  on  each  individual 
animal  is  but  slight. 
0.  It  must  be  noted  that  it  is  not  every  breed  of 
bulls  that  can  thus  be  used  uncasti-aled  foVdraugbt 
work  e.specially  in  the  ]ilough.  'I'he  spirited 
kinds  such  as  the  Mysore  and  Docauee  are  too 
mischievous  to  bo  so  used  without  being  con- 
verted into  bullocks ; but  Inills  of  the  Gir,  Aden 
and  8ind  breeds,  which  are  naturally  docile  and 
intended  lor  slow  work,  can  be  used  unca.strated. 
The  Krishna  Valley',  Malwa  and  Coimbatore 
breeds  iire  also  noted  as  ijlough  cattle. 
‘I.  Tiie  majoiity  of  animals  in  the  dairy'  farm 
are  buffaloes  w'hich  are  preferred,  as  they  yield 
richer  milk  thau  neat  cattle,  and  are  therefor^ 
