FOODS AND FEEDING. II7 



Indian Fodder. 



Hay, as made in England, is not often met with in India. Instead Indian 

 of being stacked with just sufficient moisture left in the stalks to cause hay. 

 slight fermentation, which renders hay so palatable to animals, it is, 

 owing to climatic conditions, frequently over-dried or badly rain-washed, 

 and so loses in nutritive quality ; moreover, haymaking is rarely under- 

 taken with sufficient care and skill to produce good results, and to this 

 must be attributed the infrequency of its production, for where good 

 grass cultivation has been obtained and sufficient knowledge and 

 foresight been brought to bear on the question, as good hay has been 

 produced as in England, and there is no reason why, in suitable localities, 

 a plentiful supply for troops should not be obtained. Wherever hay Hay 

 feeding has been adopted there has been a marked decrease of outbreaks feeding 

 of anthrax, and for this reason alone enough should be cultivated to decreases 

 form a reserve supply, if not the total ration. disease. 



In the hills, grass, much of which is excellent feeding when green, is 

 left standing and only cut as required, with the result that for a Hill rass. 

 considerable period animals in these districts are offered bundles of 

 sticks instead of hay. 



Grasses are of excellent quality and variety ; one or two chiefly used Grasses, 

 for horses are here mentioned ; many good grasses are only suitable for 

 horses when young, as they grow too coarse and woody. 



Dhfib (North India), Hariala (South India) is a creeping grass with Dhub, 

 an underground stem which throws out tufts of roots at intervals. It is hariala. 

 a splendid feeding grass, very hardy and able to grow with a minimum 

 of moisture. Under favourable conditions it attains a height of eighteen 

 inches, and when cultivated makes the best class of hay. Naturally, it 

 is not so luxuriant in arid districts, but yet grows well, and its succulent 

 stems run freely just below the surface. The native method of cutting How cut. 

 is to pare off the surface of the ground and the grass with it by means 

 of a " Kurpa " or broad trowel ; the dirt is then shaken, beaten, or 

 washed out. Washing, generally in most polluted puddles, to improve Washing 

 the appearance of the bundle, and soaking in the same for hours to grass, 

 increase its weight, are both favourite dodges of the grass cutters and 

 should be strictly prohibited. Forty pounds is considered the correct Amount 

 amount for a grass cutter to bring daily, but in the hot weather twenty-five given, 

 pounds is more frequently the actual amount obtained. Dhub is one 

 of the best forage grasses and may be regarded as the staple horse 

 grass of India. 



