474 MA.vuAr, OF the Nir.AoiRi district. 



CH. XXVII. so on ; but, as a general rule, west of Ootacamand the seasons of 

 Agri'cultuke. *^^ various crops may be stated as follows :— Potatoes, first crop, 



plant in February, take up in August. Oats, first crop, sowJ 



in March showers, reap in August. As regards turnips, sowl 

 in June, transplant in August. Potatoes, second crop, plant inl 

 August, take up in December. Oats, second crop, for hay or grain! 

 sow in September, reap in February. Turnips, transplant from 

 August to October, gather up to March. 



East of Ootacamand crops are much later as there is but little! 

 frost. The south-west monsoon is slight and the north-ej 

 monsoon is prolonged into January, making the seasons later by! 

 two or three months. 

 Field crops. The climate west of Ootacamand is only suited for a limited 

 number of root and fodder crops, amongst which may be noted! 

 turnips, swedes for bullocks, cows, and sheep, oats to be cut! 

 green and kept in an air-tight pit until they have fermented- 

 most valuable fodder for the dry weather — the great advantage] 

 being that this ci'op can be secured in the wettest seasons and] 

 simply requires to be buried in a pit, which may be, for conveni- 

 ence of filling, 4 feet wide, 4 feet deep, and 10 feet long. 

 This pit, when the fodder is well pressed down, will hold about' 

 two tons. The earth must be heaped up over the fodder for at 

 least 2 feet in height, sloping away from the centre to the sides. 

 No air nor water must be allowed to enter ; any cracks appearing 

 must be closed up. The fodder will keep a year. The theory of 

 this system is that fermentation develops the saccharine matter 

 in the plant, and the exclusion of air prevents decay. This system 

 is largely practised in France and is valuable on the Hills, where for 

 six months all green crops flourish, but cannot be made into hay 

 owing to excessive moisture. It also enables the farmer to 

 take two crops off the ground with certainty. Korali also may 

 be treated in the above manner. Oats, when sown in September, 

 make excellent hay in January, the time for cutting being 

 when the plant flowers. If it passes that stage all the saccharine 

 matter leaves the stalk and is deposited in the grain ; hence the 

 hay loses much of its nutritious properties. 



Lucerne grows better east of Ootacamand ; vetches grow fairly 

 and would do well if treated like green oats. Swamp grass makes 

 excellent hay, but seeds before January, so it is difficult to secure 

 it. Cocksfoot grass and sheep^s fescue grow well and make good 

 hay, but seed before January. In fact, as hay crops, they are very 

 uncertain ; a dry September alone enables the hay to be secured. 



East of Ootacamand it may be laid down that the following 

 grains all do well from 6,000 to 5,000 feet :— 



