FODDER IN INDIA. 23 



CHAPTER X. 

 The monsoon or 'kharif crops in a dry state do not 



concern us very much perhaps, but are 



^ ... ^ . . Dry Monsoon Crops, 



worthy or consideration tor times of 



stress and shortage. Juar generally known as "charri" 

 is a perfectly sound fodder in its dry state, an excellent 

 supplement to the grass ration, but should not if avoid- 

 able be made a substitute as on account of its coarse- 

 ness and hardness it is not the equal of a good 

 dry grass ration even when 25 — 20 lbs. Not more than half 

 the Iration should be juar unless quite unavoidable. 

 When cutting juar for storage as dry-fodder it should be 

 cut before the seed ripens, or as an alternative the seed- 

 heads should be cut off before cutting down the crop. In 

 this way the natural moisture is retained in the stem and 

 leaf to a great extent making the fodder more tender and 

 succulent. In both cases the crop should be cut while re- 

 taining some greenness. When the crop is allowed to ripen 

 while standing and then the seed heads removed the stalk 

 and leaves are known as tanda or karbi and, in this state, to 

 make the fodder edible it should be chaffed or chopped. 

 The foregoing remarks apply generally to bajra as well, 

 but it must be borne in mind that it is only a fodder for 

 horned cattle and should not be tendered for issue to 

 horses. 



Other monsoon crops, perhaps not yet universally 

 known or grown, are amber cane and Australian millet. 

 They are sown at the same time or rather later than juar, 

 and the former is superior to it. Horses and cattle are parti- 

 cularly partial to it as a green ration, but the seed is more 

 expensive. Both are sown and grown similarly to juar but 

 only 20 — 30 lbs. seed per acre ; they require rather more 

 moisture than juar to do their best, and are liable to be a 

 failure if there is a partial failure of the monsoon, unless 

 irrigated. Australian Millet must be cut before it shows 

 any signs of ripening, otherwise it is very dangerous. 



