Gram (Cicer arietinum), which is called chunna in Hindus-tanee, is a kind of pea, and is the grain most commonly used for horses in Northern India and the Bombay Presidency; not because it is preferred in those parts to oats, but because oats are more expensive and are more difficult to be obtained. Gram, like other peas, is too rich in nitrogenous matter to serve efficiently as the only grain for horses. In fact, a larger quantity of it than 10 lb. daily can rarely be given without its causing offensively-smelling diarrhoea, and a "heated" state of the system. Gram is best used in combination with bran, Indian corn, barley, or unhusked rice; or with two or more of these grains. The nature of such combinations will naturally be governed to a large extent by the capabilities of the local market. In almost all cases bran will be readily obtainable. Gram before being used, should be at least seven or eight months old; should be given in a broken and dry state; and should be mixed with a vehicle, such as bran or chop, that will dilute it, and will separate its particles, so that the digestive juices may freely act on them. The process of steeping gram in water is objectionable, because it increases the indigestibility of that grain. With gram as the staple food, we may with great advantage combine it with bran in the proportion of seven parts of the former to five parts of the latter. If oats or Indian corn is available, I would by no means recommend the use of gram, except, as in the case of beans and peas in England, to increase the proportion of nitrogen in the food. For this object we might employ the following combination, in which the bran is a useful addition: -

If a mixture of gram and maize be employed without any other grain, it may require an addition of bran or chop, owing to deficiency in woody fibre. The necessity of this addition is not imperative when gram is used with Indian oats, the percentage of husk in which is very high.

Kulthee (Dolichos biflorus) is used extensively throughout the Madras and Bombay Presidencies as a food for horses. It is always given boiled; because the hardness of its husk is supposed to preclude its employment in a dry state. This conclusion probably requires further corroboration. I am inclined to think, from my experience among native grooms on the Madras side, that the idea of the absolute necessity of boiling kulthee in order to render it fit for horses to eat, is greatly strengthened in the minds of these men, by the fact that the water left after boiling this grain forms excellent "stock" for their own "pepper water" (mulligatawny). The experiment of feeding horses with broken, dry kulthee mixed with bran or chop is worthy of trial. If it be desired to boil kulthee, only enough water to cook it should be used, so that, when it is fully done, the fluid which remains over in the pot may be absorbed on cooling. The steam should be allowed to escape, so that the boiled kulthee may be as dry as possible. When properly boiled, the interior of the grains will be dry and floury, like that of good and well-cooked potatoes. Kulthee is nearly similar in composition to peas, and consequently it is of a too highly nitrogenous nature to allow of its being given to horses in large quantities. The daily maximum of kulthee might be put down at 10 lb., which is a quantity that would contain far too little starch for a hard-working animal. Consequently, maize or rice (paddy) would form a valuable addition to it. Boiled kulthee, used in small quantities, has often an excellent effect on the general condition and coat.

Urud (Phaseolus mango var. radiatus) and moong (Pha-seolus mungo) are both very like kulthee in composition and qualities, and can be prepared in the same manner.

Mote (Phaseolus aconitifolius) is a grain of the feeding value of which I have no personal knowledge. A friend of mine who has had a long experience among horses in India, tells me that equal quantities of mote and gram, broken and given raw, forms a good food for horses. I would with confidence suggest the daily addition of from 2 to 4 lb. of bran to this mixture, which, also, ought to have chop added to it.