306 



Agricultural Gazette of N.S.}V. 



[May 3, 1920;- 



grain 



becomes useless. Even where weevil is not serious, the mass of 

 becomes heated very easily and loses condition because of its high moistuTe 

 content ac the time of storage and the lack of good ventilation, which i^ 

 necessary in assisting to carry oft' this surplus moisture quickly. 



Good Ventilation Necessary. 

 Sorghum or broom millet grain heats more rapidly than any other stored 

 grain, and if special* care is not taken to avoid damage from this . cause, 

 much loss is occasioned. It does not seem as if, owing to the conditions 

 necessary for dealing with the broom millet crop, any practical method can 

 bo evolved which will avoid a high moisture content in the seed when first 

 stDred. Some treatment must therefore be given to ensure the quick drying 

 of the stored seed. This is especially to be advised in warm, humid climates, 

 such as the North Coast, where most trouble is experienced. 



The following three essentials in the successful storing of broom millet 

 f >d will be of interest to broom millet growers and others : — 



1. Quick reduction of the moisture content. This is the most important. 



It may be found to be best accomplished by storing in a loft and . 

 using a rough kiln-drying method, after the manner practised on 

 some of the northern rivers of preparing maize for the early 

 market. 



2. Thorough ventilation and free circulation of air thi^ough the stored 



grain. This condition may be attained by storage in smaller bulk, 

 by special ventilating devices made with w'ii'e fly-screens on the 

 floor of the barn and distril)uted throughout the heap. Specially 

 constructed small well-ventilated bins to hold 50 or 100 bushels = 

 of seed will easily repay their cost in a season or two, with 

 intelligent use. of the seed on the farm. 



3. The storage of clean and sound grain free from dust and dirt as 



far as possible. This is attained in practice by clean hackling 

 methods and by taking every advantage of " wind winnow ing '' 

 during this operation. 



Composition and Feeding Value. 



The following taV)le gives the chemical composition of an average sample of 

 broom millet seed with that of maize and corn and cobmeal for comparison : — 



Tt will be seen that although the protein contant of broom millet seed is 

 similar to that of maize, the fibre content is about the same as that of corn 

 and cobmeal, while the nitrogen-free extract (or starch) and fat (or oil) 



