2 FODDER IN INDIA. 



country, the frequent bad years, the enormous quantities 

 required, and the comparative newness of the department, 

 are undoubtedly good, there still remains room for improve- 

 ment in both "quality and quantity," to a great extent 

 perhaps the shortcomings in quality are due to the constant 

 enormous quantity required ; be that as it may, our business 

 is to remedy the evil. 



Prior to the days of Military Grass Farms there were 



grass farms of sorts scattered here and 

 Previous Arrange- 

 ments for Fodder there Over India which it is unneces- 

 suppiy. g^j.y jQ discuss, but which in their day 



answered their purpose more or less. The Indian Cavalry 

 Regiments also mutatis mutandis had their own farms and 

 fodder arrangements as to-day ; in days to come let us hope 

 that the Military Grass Farms Department will take over 

 these farms and the fodder supplies of these regiments also. 

 But the bulk of the fodder supply was made by purchase 

 through contractors, with all the attendant evils, the 

 unfortunate quadruped being by no means the least sufferer. 

 Fodder contractors have nowadays ceased to exist as such in 

 most places, and it should be the constant aim of all con- 

 cerned to finally complete their extinction. This being done 



farm managers will, together with their 

 "^"^ pLm^"*^^ farm staff, supplement the produce from 



farm lands by the utilization to the full of 

 encamping grounds, which should be permanently acquired, 

 any other rukh or forest lands available, and the resources 

 of their district, taking the full benefit of good years for accu- 

 mulating 'reserves of fodder': the results of which procedure 

 will be a sufficiency for all calls of an economical fodder of 

 good quality. Encamping grounds which are fairly central, 

 handy, and if possible nearthe railway, may very conveniently 

 be used as receiving depots and for small reserves all the 

 year round. In this way a supply of fodder is immediately 

 available for troops or the line of march, etc., etc., and also 

 which is a great consideration the farm, the manager, and his 

 staff become well-known in the district to all concerned and 



