'REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY, FOR THE YEAR 1914-1915' [‎174r] (17/150)

SUMMARY.
IX
against smut. In the Deccan the active propaganda of former years was
continued vigorously and a considerable move forward was made in the Southern
Maratha Country. In other parts of the Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. progress was less satisfactory.
The growing of the department’s improved strains of cotton was found to be
hindered by the defective buying arrangements which obtain at present. Some
improvement was effected in this matter by inducing the cultivators of a group
of villages in Gujarat to grow cotton from the seed of the department’s improved
strains, to gin their own cotton, and market it jointly.
28. The decrease in the total of advances which occurred in the last two Advances to
years was repeated in the year under report, as the result of a third favourable cultivators,
season and would probably have been even more marked had not the war caused
a restriction of credit. The improvement in agricultural conditions is notably
reflected in the figures for Ahmednagar and Sholapur, where the amounts advanced
for the purchase of seed and cattle decreased by more than one and two lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees
respectively. The growth of co-operative credit societies has also contributed to
the diminution in demand. The only districts showing substantial increases were
East Khandesh and the districts of Sind. The increase in East Khandesh is
attributed to the shortage of credit caused by the war. In Sind the high inundation
was the main cause of the increase. • On the one hand numerous breaches in the
bunds necessitated large advances under the Land Improvement Loans Act, while
on the other hand considerable areas were rendered available for cultivation by
flooding, and the stock of seed in the hands of the zamindars required to be
supplemented by means of advances under the Agriculturists Loans Act. A large
proportion of the advances was made on the joint bond system. In the Thana
district a large sum was advanced to the inhabitants of Badlapur for re-building
their houses which had been destroyed by fire. Recoveries of tcikdvi were effected
on the whole without difficulty. Most of the works in progress were inspected by
revenue officers and in about 100 cases where misappropriation was discovered the
amount was recovered summarily, except in 14 cases in which time was given to
the borrowers to complete their works.
29. No stud bull was maintained during the year at the Northcote Cattle Breeding
Farm, Chharodi. The number of head of cattle on the farm increased slightly °P eia
but there were rather fewer calves born in the farm than during the previous year.
There was a slight decrease in the number of stud bulls owned by local bodies.
There was a slight increase in the number of mares covered by the stallions kept
by the Veterinary Department at various stations in the Deccan and Gujarat.
30. The Ahmedabad horse show was held in February. A grant of ^airs^and
Rs. 2,^00 and a silver medal were provided by Government. For the second v
year in succession no show was held either at ^thmednagar or Sholapur. Grants
for prizes were given by Government to the cattle show at Falod m the Ahmed
abad district and to the agricultural shows at Bijapur and Shirpur in the. West
Khandesh district. A cattle show was held for the first time at Landhi in the
Karachi district. Prizes were awarded from local funds and from private gifts.
31. The monsoon set m on the west coast of the Peninsula about the normal Meteorology,
date and in spite of its rather slow extension inland gave an abundant rainfall, which
was fairly well distributed. The withdrawal of the monsoon was earlier than usual
and gave a rainfall which was considerably in defect in the Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. propel but
in excess in Sind. Generally speaking the monsoon was a favourable one.
32. A favourable season resulted in a further decrease in the price of the Prices and
staple food-grains. Attempts to inflate prices artificially on the outbreak of war &
were successfully met by local committees. Wheat rose considerably m
response to the world demand, but the tendency was checked by the Government