FODDER IN INDIA. 



CHAPTER 1. 



The " Supply of Fodder in India " for milch and draught 

 animals (more especially as regards this 

 book, the supply for horses, mules and Neoessity^or^Podder 

 bullocks belonging to the Government), 

 is one of the most, if not the most, important considerations 

 of the day ; and by the use of the term " Supply of Fodder" 

 must be included sufficient quantities for ' bad ' as well as 

 normal years, i.e., it must include ' Reserves of Fodder' of 

 some kind or another to meet any emergency be it famine or 

 war, fire or water. There are many products from the land 

 which could be bought and stored cheaply in good years as a 

 provision for horned cattle and to some extent mules ; but 

 these same products or by far the most of them are ■ not 

 fodder for horses and could not be used as such for any 

 length of time. Horses require grass either green or dry, and 

 it is with the provision of this grass which I principally 

 intend to deal herein.. 



Some fifteen years or more ago the Military Grass 

 Farms were opened in and about a few 

 cantonments, and since then they have '::*fo**::, "Z,,^'^*" 

 been gradually expanding and improv- 

 ing, until to-day there is no cantonment where mounted 

 troops are stationed without a Military Grass Farm in some 

 shape or form. Further, this Department has taken up all 

 arrangements for fodder supplies to Government animals on 

 the Line of March, Camps of Exercise, Artillery Practice 

 Camps, Staff Rides, Mobilization Reserves, etc., etc. Al- 

 though the arrangements, considering the difficulties of the 



