Among Horses vti India. 21 



ground with a tool like a small reaping-hook, and dried 

 thoroughly, then collected into sheds and kept for use. It 

 is, however, dried too much, instead of being saved and 

 stacked in such a way as to ensure that slight fermentation 

 which develops the sugar and the aromatic principles exist- 

 ing in real hay that make it so attractive to horses. 



The rule throughout the country is that the grass, except 

 during the rains and for a few weeks after they have ceased, 

 is cut daily as required when only from one to three or four 

 inches high. The instrument used by the grass-cutters is a 

 short-handled spud called kurpa, which detaches the grass 

 along with a portion of the root just under the surface of the 

 ground. 



It might be supposed that grass-land would soon be 

 destroyed by such a system as this, but when there is a 

 little moisture in the air, even a light dew, the grass soon 

 recovers. No doubt the stirring of the earth assists it by 

 facilitating the absorption from the air of ammonia, carbonic 

 acid, and oxygen, by which the constituents of the soil are 

 decomposed and food is formed for the plants. Turf, such as 

 we have in English pastures, would be greatly injured by a 

 frequent repetition of such treatment, but in the dry lands 

 of hot countries there is no turf, the grass growing in tufts at 

 short distances one from the other. 



Teeatment of Fresh Geass. 



The grass after being cut should be beaten, so as to shake 

 oflf the greater part of the earth and the small stones or 

 sand which may be adhering to the roots. Grass-cutters are 

 very fond of leaving as much earth on them as possible in 

 order to increase the weight. A small quantity of mould 

 would not be injurious, and might, in some cases of acidity 

 from indigestion, even be useful; but sand rapidly wears 

 away the teeth, and stones are likely to chip off portions of 

 them. 



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