FoRAGK Crops. 293 



millets. No doubt they would be more extensively grown were their 

 value and uses well understood. They are not recommended as 

 being valuable as a part of the regular rotation, but as catch crops 

 or special crops they have their place. They are very depleting to 

 the soil and many have had unsatisfactory experience in feeding 

 them to stock. Kvery farmer should have a knowledge of the 

 proper use of the millets and of their place in the farm economy. 



Hungarian grass is in most common use in the east, while in the 

 west common millet and in the south GerrNan millet are more popu- 

 lar. One value of millet lies in the fact that it can be sown late, in 

 fact must not be sown until all danger from frost is over. It 

 develops rapidly and during midsummer is ready to begin cutting 

 for forage about thirty days from time of seeding. The Hunga- 

 rian is quicker maturing than the millets and for late sowing is pref- 

 erable to either the common or the German millet. In such a year 

 as 1894 or 1895, when many farmers found their hay crop a disap- 

 pointment and were at a loss to know how to supplement it, Hun- 

 garian or millet would possibly have served the purpose well. 



The soil should be rich and given thorough preparation. Clay 

 soils which are inclined to be lumpy require extra precaution 

 in fitting. The amount of seed required varies from one- 

 half bushel to three pecks per acre, which should be har- 

 rowed in lightly and rolled. On freshly cleared or bottom-land 

 soils it makes a rank growth and is available for forage at a time 

 when it is usually found necessary to supplement the pastures. 

 Though it is a gross feeder yet this fact may be of actual benefit 

 to the kinds of soil just mentioned. 



Feeding millet green. 



When stock is turned in upon a field of green millet for the 

 first time, or a heavy feed is given, there is danger that serious re- 

 sults may follow. Animals not accustomed to green forage should 

 not at first be allowed a full feed of any green crop, especially mil- 

 let, but should be given only a part ration of the green 

 material . If allowed to gorge themselves serious results may fol- 

 low. If it is desired that the animals be turned upon the crop to 

 pasture this should be done only after their appetite has been 

 partly appeased by other food. 



