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near Kowloon and on Hong Kong Island. Cattle for slaughter is almost entirely imported except for the occasional beast sold by local farmers because of old age or injury. The postwar increase in poultry farming and pig keeping has been maintained although poultry farmers are finding it difficult to make a living owing to uncertain supply and high price of feeding stuffs and to competition with imported birds and

eggs.

Agricultural Department

The Agricultural Department was only formed in 1946 but its growth and development have been rapid and it is in contact with practically all agricultural areas. The Colony has been divided for agricultural purposes into six districts each having an agricultural demonstration 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 has been built at Castle Peak. Here new and introduced varieties of crops, breeds of livestock, insecticides, and methods of cultivation are being tried out before being demonstrated at the district stations.

The Berkshire breed of pigs is being used to cross with the local SOW. This cross has been most successful and has aroused the interest of the pig farmers in the Colony. Boars are stationed throughout the Territories for boar service.

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 Ĉantonese 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. Inoculation of all cattle against rinderpest using lapinized vaccine is another activity undertaken by the department and these inoculations are now compulsory.

Vegetable Marketing Organization

All

In September 1946, a vegetable marketing scheme similar to that started for the marketing of fish was introduced on the mainland. vegetables produced in the New Territories mainland or imported into

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