FODDER IN INDIA. ' ' (37 



• ' ' ' / I 



prefers a heavy soil, and it will not follow a kharjf crop 



• so well as barley or oats, a fallow is best suited. Wheat 

 does not make any sort of hay and must be issued green 

 (khasil or khawid). 



Rye Grass (or Rye), try, if you like, experiment, but in the 

 writer's opinion and experience, in India rye is best left 

 alone, " the game is not worth the candle." I have 

 heard that rye grass has done well at Bangalore. 



Mustard — Known as sarson, is useful as cattle fodder 

 mixed with bhoos'a or other food. It grows anywhere and 

 is usually sown mixed with wheat or barley in the 

 proportion of 5 — i, or may be sown alone in single rows 

 or between plots. 



Vetches, Shaftal. — A species of clover. It may be grown in a 

 small way as a " fancy fodder," it is very luscious, but 

 requires irrigation, unless under exceptional circum- 

 stances. 



Barseem. — As Shaftal an excellent fodder, but one which 

 with possible exceptions can only be dealt with in quite 

 a small way, where canal irrigation is available ; perhaps 

 something extensive might be done even in India ? 

 Barseem requires a rich clayey loam, plenty of moisture, 

 and some rainfall. (See official pamphlet on this by 

 Major Marriott.) 



Lucerne. — As the two foregoing but more hardy and conse- 

 quently more commonly found in India. Under satisfac- 

 tory conditions (i. e., constantly moist soil) it will live 

 through the hot weather without irrigation as it is very 

 deep rooted, and then thrive again in the cold season ; 

 with regular irrigation, constant cutting, and weeding it 

 will flourish all the year round, and with a couple of top 

 dressings of manure during the period will last six or 

 seven years without re-s^owing ; to this extent it is 

 perennial. If grown from seed (and only the very best 

 should be used) and treated as above, lucerne will yield 

 up to 600 maunds per acre per annum of green fodder ; it 

 is more usually issued green in India but makes excellent 



