t)ec. 1, 1894.] Supplement to the " Tropical Agriculturist." 
433 
pardce (Giraffe), and Cavicornia (oxen, sheep, goats, 
antelopes). The Cavicornia include the most 
typical ruminants, and those of most importance 
to man. The upper jaw is wholly destitute of in- 
cisors and canines, the place of which is taken by 
the hardened gum, against which the lower incisors 
bite. There are six incisors and two canines in the 
lower jaw, placed in continual series, and the molars 
are separated by a wide gap from the canines. 
There are six grinders on each side of each jaw. 
The horns are persistent and consist of bony pro- 
cesses of the frontal bone, or " horn-core," covered 
by a sheath of horn. The feet are cleft but are 
mostly furnished with accessory hoofs placed at 
the back of the foot. 
The Cavicornia comprise the Antilopidae, Ovidce 
the Bovidae. The possession of lachrymal sinuses 
or " tear pits " (found also in the Vervidae or 
deer family) distingushes the antelopes from the 
other Cavicornia. Each pit consists of a sebaceous 
sac placed beneath the eye, and secreting a 
yellow waxy substance. The function of these 
glands is uncertain, but they are thought to be 
sexual. The domestic goat (Capra hircus) is 
generally believed to be a descendant of a species 
which occurs in a wild state in Persia and in the 
Caucasus (the "Paseng " or Capra JEgagrus. True 
sheep never possess a beard, and the horns though 
triangular and transversely ridged, are more 
cylindrical than in the goats, and are geneinlly 
twisted into a spiral. 
The true oxen (Bovidce) are distinguished 
by having simply rounded horns, which are not 
twisted in a spiral manner. Among them we un- 
doubtedly have the most useful of animals, both 
as beasts of burden and as suppliers of food. 
The parent stock of the numerous breeds of 
European cattle is not known with absolute 
certainty. The common buffalo of India and 
Ceylon (Bubalus bubalis) is an invaluable beast 
of burden iu the East, and it is most used in 
agricultural operations especially as a ploughing 
animal; but it is also useful — though to a less 
extent than oxen — as a source of meat and milk. 
The horns in buffaloes are of large size* and 
their bones are confluent, so that the forehead is 
protected by a bony plate of considerable thickness. 
The fatty hump over the withers at the back of 
the neck distinguishes the Zebu (Bos Indicus). 
The "humped cattle" of the East are believed 
to have descended from a different stock to that 
which has given origin to the humpless races. 
They are known from Egyptian monuments to have 
been domesticated at an extremely early period, 
hue their wild form is unknown. Referring to the 
hump of Eastern cattle, Prof. Wallace remarks: 
'' The hump is erroneously supposed to have some- 
thing to do with the drawing power of the 
animal .... It is difficult to see the value 
of the hump in Indian cattle, unless it is simply 
an ornamental appendage, or a sort of storehouse 
of surplus material in the animal economy, which 
may be drawn from to support life in times of 
scarcity or starvation." 
NOTES ON REANA LVXUIUANS. 
By Pnoiioim Cuundra Be, F.R.1I.S. 
As an experimental trial Henna lu.ruriaus was 
grown for the first time in Raosbagh, Motirshe- 
llubad, in 1892-93. Presuming that the result of 
my experience may prove to be of some use to the 
intending growers of this valuable fodder, I take 
up this subject for report in full. 
The seed was obtained very late in the season, 
that is, about the time of its seeding, but instead 
of keeping it for the next season, I had it sown 
as soon as everything was ready. 
The plot of land selected for the purpose wa s 
lower than the general surface of the garden, 
though considerably higher than the surrounding 
country, and had been lying fallow for long, 
because of the salts with which it was impregnated. 
It was for this reason only that no crops would 
grow successfully on it : hence the plot had been 
long neglected. However, I could not give my 
Reana Luxurians a better site, for all others had 
been previously growing several crops of the 
season. About the middle of October the plot 
underwent five or six ploughings, the clods being 
broken by means of the moi or ladder. The land 
was then divided into parallel furrows, a foot 
and-a-half apart, running from north to south. 
When everything was ready, the seed was thinly 
sown in these furrows by the first week of 
November, and was covered with soil for about 
two inches. The soil being very dry and the 
season cold, the seeds took a long time to germin- 
ate ; in fact at the end of twelve days there was 
no sign of germination at all. It had therefore 
become necessary to have the plot irrigated from 
a tank close by. After a second watering, which 
was repeated the fifth day, almost all the seeds 
sprouted freely. Now, occasional irrigation was 
continued until the monsoon set it. The plants 
remained stunted, and backward in growth until 
they were favoured by a few showers of the 
season. 
In July next the furrows were filled up with 
soil from the sides, thus making the land even, in 
order that the rain-water might not accumulate at 
the roots. With the setting in of the rainy season, 
the plants began to start afresh, forming into 
handsome masses, when their luxuriance was 
everything that could be desired. Until this 
time the ground had been occasionally weeded, 
but now it was almost impracticable to continue 
weeding without injuring the crop. Although it 
was discontinued, I did not notice any weeds or 
f umatories ( Sic) hindering t he growth of the plants ; 
but the plants on the southern part of the plot, 
which was facing the field where Avar (Cajanu's 
Indicus) had been growing, were smaller than 
those on the northern, and the reason for this 
peculiarity was, it occurs to my mind, the obstruc- 
tion of ventilation and light caused by the afore- 
stid crop. The inference that may be adduced 
from this circumstance is that a site for Reana 
should be so selected that it might not in any way- 
be shaded or opposed to the direct influences and 
the free access of air and light, which form the 
valuable ingredients of plantlife. 
In September, when the crop was in full vigour 
the heipht of the plants averaged twelve feet, 
some being, however, thirteen feet, but as fodder 
they should never be allowed to grow so big as 
that, for in such case the leaves become dry and 
tough, and the lower parts of the stalks dry, 
which renders them uneatable by animal's. 
Although some such stalks were cut into very 
small pieces and given to the plough bullocks of 
the garden, it was fouml that they ato only tin? 
