Feb. 1, 1895.] Supplement to the " Tropical Agriculturist. 
that plants of the order Leguminosae are able to 
assimilate nitrogen from the atmosphere, and that 
consequently, during the growth of such plants, 
there is an actual gain of this element. If a 
leguminuous crop, e.r/., indigo orsan hemp (Cro- 
talaria juncect) be ploughed-in as a manure for 
the cold weather crop, both organic matter and 
nitrogen are thereby added to the soil and act as 
a manure. 
At the Experimental Farms at Cawnpore, Nagpur, 
and Dumraon (Bengal) this subject has engaged 
attention for some years, and it will be of interest 
to compare the results arrived at. Indigo has 
been ploughed-in at Cawnpore in August during 
the preparation of the land for the cold-weather 
crop and wheat sown. The average of the results 
obtained during eight years is 1,544 lbs. of grain 
from the plot on which indigo was ploughed-in, 
and 1,052 lbs. of grain from the unmanured plot. 
Similarly at Cawnpore, Nagpur, and Dumraon 
san hemp has been ploughed-in during seven years 
as a green crop with the following results. Wheat 
was the crop cultivated at Cawnpore and Nagpur, 
and the figures are the mean of the results. 
Cawnpore. Nagpur. 
lbs. lbs. lbs. 
grain. grain grain. 
Hemp ploughed-in 1,206 1,273 803 
Nil . . . 1,052 73 802 
The experiments made at the Dumraon Farm 
have been with different crops. In two years 
potatoes were cultivated, in three years wheat, 
nnd in one year paddy. The yield of potatoes 
was largely increased in each case. The paody 
crop was nearly doubled, but in two cases with 
wl eat a smaller yield was obtained from the 
manured crop than from the unmanui'ed. At 
Nagpur, too, tile results were not uniform. Mn 
Fuller, Commissioner of Settlements and Agricul- 
ture, refers to this in his Eeports of the f arm ; 
and it is probable that much depends on the 
conditions of weather following upon the plough* 
ing-in of green crops. In four out of seven years 
an increase was obtained at Nagpur in consequence 
of the ploughing-in of green hemp. Whilst, 
however, an increase of the wheat crop has not 
always been the result, an increase has frequently 
been obtained with the manure residue when a 
crop of cotton has been taken off the land in the 
following hot season. 
The evidence in favour of this method of 
manuring is therefore fairly uniform. It is 
moreover one which is genei'ally quite feasible 
for the r<tynt. Its cost may be estimated by that 
of the seed plus the labour required for the culti- 
vation of ( he green crop. 
The experiments at the Farms are b'ing con- 
tinued, and in a few years more concordant 
results may be expected. 
[It seems likely that the subject of green- 
soiling may assume much greater importance in 
the future than it has done in tin' past, when 
considered in the light thrown on the subject by 
the discovery of the great merit of the pea family 
ot plants (Papilionacece) in taking free nitrogen 
from the air and imparting it to the soil, specially 
if such plants be subsequently ploughed-in as 
green manure lu the Dictionary article (M. i51) 
it will be seen that Tea Planters are reported to 
frequently sow mustard between the tea plants 
and to dig the mustard into the soil with the 
View of green-manuring. In the light of recent 
investigations it may almost be confidently 
affirmed that very much better results would be 
obtained were they to substitute any of the wild 
papilionaceous weeds of their neighbourhood. 
What is wanted is a rapid-growing plant that in 
a given time produces the highest percentage of 
leaf, and one also which has a readily decompos- 
able stem. In the above experiments san hemp 
(Crotalaria juncea) has been most favourably 
spoken of, but it seems probable one of the wild 
Crotalarias of more rapid growth and less woody 
texture would be more effectual. For example, 
C. striata, C. sericea, and C. retusa are fairly 
prevalent weeds of cultivated regions especially 
so in Western India. These are smaller and more 
hardy plants than C. juncea. Of course it would 
not be necessary to confine experiment to the 
species of Crotalaria ; so far as at present know n, 
it is probable any papilionaceous plant would 
serve the purpose. It is, however, frequently 
state;! that any leguminous plant possesses the 
property of absorbing free nitrogen, but this 
would seem a mistake, since no member of the 
Mimosece nor of the Ccesalpinece has as yet been 
proved to have any such property. 
FODDER CROPS AND CATTLE KEEPING 
IN CEYLON. — V. 
( Concluded. ) 
I have already in this series of contributions 
referred to cultivated fodder crops, but it 
has to be noted, that a variety ot plants which 
now grow wild are, if properly cultivated, capable 
of being made very useful fodder plants. Of 
plants that are likely to be successful, if pro- 
perly grown, a few that are indigenous to 
Ceylon shall be noted below. 
Cattle eat greedily the leaves of many leguminous 
plants, notably the Jpesniodiutd (Sing. Undupiyali), 
Cajanus (Rata tora), Phaseolus (Me, Mun) &c.,and 
Cassia (Tora). According to Thwaites there are 
five species of indigenous Desmodiitm growing 
in t he Island. These are :-^D. trifolium (Hinun 
dupiyali), D. ifeffiro/^y/ftmfMaha-undupiyali), D, 
parmfolium, D. (jyrans and D. gyroides. All these 
are more or less perennial herbs with a fair amount 
of leafage. Their leaves are generally obovata 
and are green and thin, being neither very succulent 
nor dry. In the fresh state the leaves are readily 
eaten by all kiuds of stock especially when given 
along with grass- It may be noted in passing 
that the leaves of Desmodium are specially 
relished by hares and rabbits. \\ hen partially 
dry they have a fine sweet aroma. The plant's 
respond very readily to cultivation, and regular 
crops could be easily taken every month or five 
weeks. The leaves in a partially dry state cannot but 
be a very nutritrious article of diet for animals. 
Of Cajanus we have so far only one species 
that may be useful as a fodder. C. ivdicus (S. 
Rata tora) cannot be said to be regularly grown 
in Ceylon, though of late it is common to find 
patches of land laid under it in different Idealities. 
Owing, no doubt, to ignorance of the manner ot' 
preparing its seeds for use as human food, 
its culture has not extended. If, however, the 
plant be grown a fodder crop, the leav es which 
are used as fodder will require no other pre- 
paration than drying. All stock take to thig 
readily. It grows without much trouble. 
