The state herald., 1915-10-29
Use Of Sudan grass for horses

We Of the army have been endsavor.
ing 70 find the most suitable forage
plant for the artillery and cavalry hors.
es In the service. It has been our de-
sire Of later years to discover the most
available forage plants for this purpose
IOf course we know oil about the prairie
grasses. the mountain bunch grass and
timothy but we required something bet.
ter. Any Of our old grizzle tops is a
cranky as the sergeants when it comes
to the grade Of chow put up in the ra.
tons. A horse dotes on alfalfa, but al.
falfa is not good given in straight doscs
1t is very palatable feeding hay but il
has been demonstrsted by actual !expe'
rienee with the United States cavalry
thr.'tnsss mixed in the proporti0n- of
about half and half with good. we'll
|cured grass hay, II will not produce sat
|isfactory results, causing horses to seour
badly and consequently lose weight A
new dslicacy has come the way Of the
troop horse one that plessss..the palate
and yet is beneficial to equine health.
Sudan grass may soon be . regular
entire on the menu Of the stables Of the
army. 1t came about In this fashion:
David B. Clarkson Of Chicago. better
known in texas as the apostle Of sudan
grass. furnished US with 40. 900 pounds
Of the new forage from his big ranch
near Corpus Christi Our regiment was
stationed at Texas City. near Houston.
and orders were issued by Major Gener
al j. Franklin Bell. commanding the
army division. providing for . practical
test Of the grass ~ 70 seeding qualities
for animals. Troop C. Captain W. J.
Scott, commanding. and Troop b. First
Lieutenant Z. A. Ksyes. commanding.
were selected to conduct the test. each
troop bang issued 20. 900 pounds Of The
grass for the purpose. These troops
were chosen for the reason that their
commanders were graduates Of the
mounted service school at Port Riley.
Kansas. and are recognized by army
men - experts on forage for animals.
They both pronounced the test entire
| ly satisfactory and intend to submit re
ports TO the officials at Washington
strongly recommending sudan grass q
n feeding hay for public animals The
average old cavalry horse 10 rather par
ticular as to his feed, especially the ha,
component Of the forage ration nnt
when he displays anything approaching
enthusiasm over hay II may DO tsker
for granted that he has got hold oi
something good. From the beginning
the horses went for the sudan gras'
like children after candy. showing con
eiusivcly that Il was . most palatsbl'
feed; but like children again. everything
n horse likes 10 not necessarily the bes'
feed for II.
Sudan grass TO the exclusion Of al
other hay. was fed to the horses OF th'
two ,ruops for one month and the 70
suits were satisfaetory In every respss'
The horsss ate every shrcd Of Il. IN
proved In condition and while Il was mol
practicable TO weigh them at the BE-
| ginning and conclusion Of the test las
convinced from my inspection Of th'
horses that ,hsy gained some In weigh
| | have become . Arm believer In sudA'
grass o. . feed and will do everything
/ can TO encourage the production Of u
Since the conclusion Of the test u
Isisth Cavalry has been moved fros
ITsxss City to Harrington. near ID
Mexican border. and tho Sixth Cavalr,
horses have been proving their sndu'
snee In carrying troopers In their sup
preston Of the hsaiesn raiders, .
doubtless Troops q and B are rssiisis'