28 FODDER IN INDIA. 



hay if carefully " grot" before it actually flowers ; if it is 

 intended to bale it it is better to chaff it first a sowing to its 

 nature it breaks up very much. There are several methods 

 and as many opinions as to the best way of sowing 

 lucerne. Though rather more expensive, the writer is in 

 favour of " ridges " For this method lo lbs. of seed per 

 acre are required. Sow in October on well manured 

 land thoroughly ploughed and as deeply as possible, the 

 ridges should be ij4' apart and ij^' high, for choice 

 they should run E. to W., but in any case must be at 

 right angles to the water irrigation channels : you must 

 have a fine tilth. Unless you intend to do the thing 

 really well and give it every chance, better leave the 

 cultivation of lucerne for some one else. It will not grow 

 itself and anything much less than the out-turn men- 

 tioned above won't pay, and lucerne containing 20 — 50 

 per cent, weeds is an abomination. 



Maina, Senji, Methra, and several other cold season 



crops, and if not suitable to the grass farmer for cultivation 



as fodder, it is well to remember they have their use as 



legumes, and any one of them or a mixture of some may, 



without disturbing grass lands in any way to their detriment, 



with advantage be shallow sown thereon to its undeniable 



benefit if done intelligently, simply because they constantly 



enrich the soil, whereas grass crops are equally constantly 



impoverishing it ; this may truly be looked upon as an 



example of the " science " of grass farming. 



Gram — Known as chenna or chhola, something of a 



paradox gram while a hardy crop is yet exceedingly 



delicate, it will grow with a minimum of cultivation on 



any soil from sand to clay, though for choice it prefers a 



stiff soil ; it requires little or no weeding ; but it is very 



susceptible to damage from climatic idiosyncrasies. 



Gram may be issued green to horses and cattle, not 



recommended for horses however, or only in very small 



quantities ; but fed to farm bullocks when the grain is in 



the pod it will save their grain ration for the time, and 



