FODDER PLANTS. 



61 



to cattle, though considered by some to be a heating form of food. {See also Part II., 

 p. 13 under Ervum Lens). 



Medic ago sativa* {Lucerne). — Natural order Leguminosa. This plant appears to 

 be truly wild in South-East Europe, Persia, Afghanistan, Baluchistan, and Kashmir. 

 It is largely grown for green fodder in these Provinces, especially in the Meerut Divi- 

 sion. The average area occupied by this crop in the district of Meerut for the three 

 years ending 1889-90 is given as 545 acres. In the farm attached to the Remount 

 Depot at Saharanpur lucerne has for many years been cultivated to a large extent, as 

 also at the Babugarh horse-breeding depot near Meerut. Lucerne is a very profitable 

 crop when grown under favourable conditions. It thrives best in a calcareous soil. 

 Its strong tap root enables it to stand drought well, and very fair crops may be 

 obtained without any artificial irrigation. If frequent cuttings and heavy crops are 

 required, a liberal application of manure and constant waterings in dry weather are 

 necessary. In this country the seed is sown either broadcast in beds, or on ridges. 

 The latter is the preferable method, as weeding can be much more easily performed ; 

 and in localities where the rainfall is heavy the ridge system prevents the plants from 

 being continually swamped during wet weather. In a note recently issued by the 

 Department of Land Eecords and Agriculture, Bombay, Mr. Mollison, the Superin- 

 tendent of Farms, gives some very useful information on lucerne cultivation as practised 

 at the Babugarh Depot, and at the Poona Experimental Farm. In both places the 

 ridge system has been adopted, not only because it enables the crop to be more easily 

 kept clear of weeds, and better drained, but the plants can be maintained in good health 

 for a much longer period than in the case of broadcast sowings. Another advantage 

 is that the quantity of seed per acre required for ridge sowings is smaller, about ten 

 pounds of seed per acre being sufficient; whereas 16 to 20 lbs. is the usual quantity 

 when sown broadcast. 



Oryza sativa {Rice). — 'The straw (pial) is not considered of much account for fod- 

 der purposes in these Provinces, and is used only when other kinds of fodder are not 

 available. In Bengal and Southern India, however, rice straw constitutes the chief fod- 

 der, and in the Madras Presidency it is stacked in every district, and is said to remain 

 good for upwards of three years. (See also Part I., p. 16). 



Panicum jumentorum {Guinea grass) is a tall perennial grass from tropical Africa. 

 It is grown locally in these Provinces, and chiefly in Government farms, and in gardens 

 managed by Europeans. It is easily cultivated in the plains, and when irrigated is 

 capable of yielding seven or eight cuttings during the year, a single cutting producing 180 

 maunds of green, fodder suitable for all kinds of stock. It can be raised either by seed 

 or by root- cuttings ; the latter method is preferable. The ground should first of all be 

 trenched and liberally manured, and at the commencement of the rainy season the cut- 

 tings may be dibbled in at about two feet apart on parallel ridges. As the plants be- 

 come established less irrigation will be required, and the luxuriant growth of the crop 

 will soon help to reduce the cost and labour of weeding. It is the habit of this grass to 



* References: -Fl. Br. Ind., II., 90 ; Watt, Diet. Econom. Prod. ; DC. L'Orig. PI. Cult., 81. 



