Agricultural Department
The Agricultural Department was only formed in 1946 but its growth and development have been rapid and practically all agricul- tural areas are now in close contact with it. The Colony has been divided for agricultural purposes into six districts each having an agricultural station. These stations are situated at Tsun Wan, Sheung Shui, Taipo, Shatin and Sai Kung on the mainland and at Silver Mine Bay on Lantao Island. The purpose of these stations is demonstration of new and improved agricultural and animal husbandry technique, and distribution of improved seed and stock. Contact with farmers is maintained by means of regular monthly meetings when farming problems are discussed.
In addition to the agricultural field stations a main agricultural experimental station is in the process of being built at Castle Peak. Here new and introduced varieties of crops, breeds of livestock, insecticides, and methods of cultivation are tried out before being demonstrated at the district stations.
Pending the completion of the main station, there is a pig breeding station and a poultry breeding station at Sheung Shui. At the pig breeding station, the Berkshire breed is being used to cross with the local sow. This cross has been most successful and has aroused the interest of pig farmers in the Colony.
At the poultry station, pens of pedigree birds of introduced breeds are kept. Work is being done on the crossing of these breeds with the local Cantonese hen in an attempt to produce a fast- maturing hybrid suitable for the local market. It has been found that the New Hampshire crossed with the local Cantonese bird makes an excellent hybrid for meat production. Feed trials are also being undertaken.
During 1949 an intensive campaign against rinderpest, an endemic disease in Hong Kong, was undertaken. The cattle were immunized through the use of lapinized vaccine. This vaccine was produced locally using a strain of batch No. 827 which was brought from Bangkok with the help of F.A.O. and kept going by passage through rabbits. At the same time the Chinese authorities undertook a similar campaign on their side of the border. The result of this campaign has been most striking and no cases of rinderpest have been reported since completion of the campaign. Inoculation of all cattle against rinderpest using this lapinized vaccine has now been made compulsory.
Vegetable Marketing Organization
In September 1946 a vegetable marketing scheme similar to the scheme started for marketing fish was introduced on the mainland. All vegetables produced in the New Territories mainland or imported into that area are sold wholesale by a Government Vegetable Marketing Organization, the aim of which is to ensure fair and steady returns to vegetable producers and reasonable selling prices to consumers. It is intended that in due course this Organization will become a cooperative enterprise.
43