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Mr. Francis.Assuming you were asked to do this what would be about the cost?
A.-Probably about $100.
Mr. Osborne. I mean a prominent man whose business it would be to go to the sources of supply once or twice a year.
Mr. Ladds. You could only send him once. You could not do it twice with the Chinese. The guild would be there next time.
Mr. Osborne. We might try it once. We might ask the Government to do this. Mr. Fung Wa Chün.-We want to know something. Better intimate to the Government to do it at once.
Mr. Francis. Do you know any man you could usefully send-a man who could get the information we want?
yes,
A.-Oh I would appoint one of my own men. He would have to visit two or three places.
Mr. Osborne. Where would he have to go?
A.-Lien Chau, Hoifung, and perhaps a few other places.
Mr. Osborne. What we really want is to find out the first cost.
Dr. Hartigan.--Have you any ideas as to the improvement of the breed of pigs here?
A. I should not suggest it. If you try to improve the native breed of any animals you would probably improve it for the worse. The existing breed is quite good enough if taken care of. You can get no better than the native animal for this locality.
Mr. Francis.-Would it be any advantage to get the English breed of pigs in sub- stitution for the Chinese round-bellied pig?
A. I would not do much with that either. There are lots of good pigs in China if they were looked after and fed, and the cattle, though small, are good if properly fed and well looked after. One of the best English breeds of pig originally came from China in the Berkshire pig.
Dr. Hartigan. Have these men on the mainland any good bulls at all?
A.The ordinary native bull.
Q.-But would it not be advisable to try and get a couple of bulls, good ones ? A.-If you want to do anything in that way you should recommend the Govern- ment to give me a grant of money to start an experimental farm with.
Mr. Francis.-Could you give us any idea of what the first and annual cost of an experimental farm would be ?
A. Yes.
Mr. Osborne.--But where would you propose to have it?
A. On the Island of Lantau. There is a very fine piece of land there.
Mr. Francis.--Your model farm would include what ?
A.--Cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry and a garden. Experimental farms as a rule are
not paying concerns. They may be very expensive.
Q. And any profit out of them is very indirect?
A.--Yes.
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