30 HORSIC MANAGEMENT IN INDIA. 



tects the sugar, albumen, and other soluble compounds 

 contained in it from being dissolved by moisture and 

 rain. When the grass is cut, this varnish gradually 

 wears away, and if the grass be exposed to wet, it will 

 then lose a considerable portion of its nutritive ele- 

 ments, especially if this envelope be bruised in any 

 way. As long as the plant lives, fermentation cannot 

 take place, which process is caused by the nitrogenous 

 matters coming in contact with the sugar and water, 

 on the breaking up of the different cells which com- 

 pose the substance of the grass. During fermenta- 

 tion, the non-nitrogenous matters are turned into sugar, 

 then into alcohol, and finally into carbonic acid, which 

 is set free into the atmosphere in the form of gas. 

 Thus " fodder which has been submitted to active 

 fermentation generally loses its nutritive properties, 

 because the materials destined for the production of 

 flesh in animals is transformed into sugar, which des- 

 troys itself soon after." When grass is cut, " if the 

 weather is fine and warm, so that desiccation takes place 

 rapidly, the rate per cent, of damp soon falls so low- 

 that fermentation cannot take place. The hay remains 

 upon the ground and cannot easily become heated, even 

 though in reality it contains more water than fodder 

 harvested in bad condition. The more rapidly hay 

 is turned to the sun, the less it will be bruised, and 

 the greener it is, the better it will resist fermentation 

 when it is stored ; nevertheless, it often happens that 

 a too rapid preparation injures fodder, and in a good 

 year hay appears to be saved in fine condition, when 

 in reality it is not. If hay be completely dried in 



