BAMBOO LEAVES. 177 



is broken up, and a cereal crop follows. As a general rule, it 

 can recur on the same land only after a period of rest equal in 

 duration to the lucerne ley. This interval of time, howeve^ 

 depends largely upon the nature of the subsoil ; if this is good, 

 the crop may recur sooner " (Stebler and Schroter). 



Lucerne can usually be cut four or five times in the year. 

 In fact, whether it is used green or as hay, it ought not to be 

 allowed to flower ; for as Wolff points out, it rapidly loses its 

 nutritive properties after that period, by developing fibre. 

 Besides, if cut when in flower, and especially when in seed, the 

 plants become exhausted, and their life shortened. The best 

 way for stable use, is to cut a little every day, according 

 to requirements. It is advisable to dry it in the sun for an 

 hour or more before giving it, so as to render it more 

 digestible and to make the horse chew it better. For working 

 horses, 3 or 4 Ib. of green lucerne will be a fair daily allow- 

 ance ; and for idle horses, 8 or 9 Ib. 



Exact experiments have shown that hay made from young 

 lucerne, is of higher feeding value than either pasture hay or 

 clover hay (Farm Foods). Such hay, which is probably the 

 best form of lucerne for feeding purposes, will be more or less 

 of a green colour. As the nutritive matter of cut lucerne is 

 very soluble in water, and as the leaves of dry lucerne are 

 particularly brittle ; it is essential when making lucerne into 

 hay, to dry it quickly, and to turn it as little as practicable. 

 Care should be taken to give in a clean state to horses, and to 

 remove from it any adhering fungi, which often attack lucerne. 



A plot of lucerne forms a very useful adjunct to a stable. 



BAMBOO LEAVES. 



In the hill districts of Eastern Assam and Burma, I have 

 had many opportunities of seeing bamboo leaves used as a 

 complete substitute for ordinary grass and hay in the feeding 

 of horses, without any marked difference in the condition of 



12 



