INSTITUTE, PUSA, FOR 1917-18 03 



the results were reported to Army Headquarters. Orders 

 have since been received for carrying out a further -set of 

 tests on a larger scale and for this purpose about 1,000 

 maunds of baled clover have this year been supplied for the 

 trials supervised by Brigadier- General Cook, R. G. A. This 

 fodder was grown by the zamindars near Harnai and was 

 purchased green for drying and baling. These operations 

 were interfered with to some extent by the scarcity and 

 dearness of agricultural labour which resulted from the 

 temporary concentration of troops at Harnai and m the 

 neighbourhood in connection with the Mari Field Force. 

 Some of the fodder was supplied to the troops green, the 

 rest was dried and made into bales for the tests at Quetta. 

 These are now in progress and are proceeding satisfactorily. 

 A suitable centre for the growth and baling of shaftal, 

 lucerne and berseem on the large scale has been found at 

 which it will be possible to erect and run a hydraulic press. 

 Detailed suggestions as to future work are being drawn up 

 at the request of the Army authorities. 



At the suggestion of Brigadier- General Cook, R.G.A., 

 and with the assistance of Major Hislop, experiments have 

 been made at Quetta to determine whether or not these 

 leguminous fodders could be baled close enough to meet 

 Army transport requirements. The difficulty in baling 

 shaftal and lucerne hay, under the dry conditions at Quetta, 

 is to obtain a close bale without, at the same time, damaging 

 the product. Both these fodders dry out so quickly and 

 become so brittle that it is almost impossible to bale them 

 without considerable loss of leaf — the most nutritious 

 portion of the fodder. 



These difficulties have now been overcome. If shaftal 

 or lucerne hay is allowed to dry outright in small stacks, the 

 brittle fodder can be got back into condition for close press- 

 ing by watering the heap on the outside by means of an ordi- 

 nary watering can and by covering it up for 24 hours with 

 a tarpaulin or a small tent- The moisture then penetrates 

 the heap and brings the fodder into condition for handling 

 and baling. The outside layers are often a little too damp, 



