FODDER IN INDIA. 



33 



as economically as possible, but there is a growing tendency 

 to cut down rates nam-ke-waste out of all reason, it is generally 

 done at the expense of the land, the expense of quality, 

 the expense of the horse, and the expense of the farm's 

 good name by causing recurring complaints. All this is 

 obviously wrong, and there should be a limit to the cutting 

 down business. Everything in India is dearer than it was 

 a few years ago, especially labour. I am not by any means 

 advocating high rates, but certainly the best article avail- 

 able of its kind at a "fair " price ; what you lose on the 

 swings you'll gain on the roundabouts, and don't forget 

 20 lbs. of good hay or even good dry grass, and 6 or 

 7 lbs. of grain fed with intelligence will keep a horse much 

 more "fit" than 10 — 14 lbs. grain and 20 lbs. of rubbish. 



Fodder is cheaper than grain anyway, 



lu T Cutting, 



even at one rupee per 100 lbs. lo 



resume, owing to the large area to be cut, the difficulties 

 in obtaining labour at a minimum rate, the objection to the 

 extensive or exclusive use of mowing-machines owing to the 

 reduced " out-turn," sometimes, of course, the nature of the 

 land will not allow of machines being used : not often, the 

 consequence is, especially on the larger farms, that the grass 

 crop is rarely cut in time {i.e., when in flower, but before the 

 pollen can be shaken off, and while still green) ; if harvesting 

 could be begun and carried on to the greatest possible extent 

 on October ist and finished by November 15th or earlier there 

 would be little to grumble at as regards quality in most years ; 

 there is always the tail-end of the monsoon to be remembered 

 when you are starting, and except, perhaps, in years when 

 there appears to be a failure of the later rains or returning 

 monsoon, it seems very risky to start any serious operations 

 before the ist of October, but there may be occasions when 

 it is worth the gamble ! Any considerable fall of rain im- 

 mediately before or during the harvesting means heavy dews 



resulting in the discolouration of cut 



° Cocking, 



grass, therefore each day's cutting should 



be cocked in " monkey-cocks or wind-rows " over-night and 



