25S ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Oft. Doc. 



er, paiULulaily in the early spring, and the jield of dry matter per 

 acre was on\j about one-balf as great as from the other varieties. 

 For a crop that may be seeded in June for summer growth, it may be 

 strongly recommended. 



Barnyard Millet . — Barnyard millet is much superior to the or- 

 dinary German millet or Hungarian grass. It may be sown after 

 rye, oats and peas, or other crops, at the rate of fifteen to twenty 

 pounds of seed per acre, as early as May 15, or as late as August 15. 

 and it will mature a crop in from forty to sixty days, depending upon 

 season. If well fertilized, which is essential, the yield will range 

 from eight to twelve tons per acre. In using this crop for either 

 soiling purposes or for hay, it should be cut just before heading 

 out, as it hardens ver3' rapidly after heading, and is then unpal 

 atable. 



Pearl Millet. — This is one of the best of Jhe millets, and different 

 seedings may be planted, beginning with May 15, and continuing 

 until August 15. It is one of the larger varieties, growing from 

 eight to -ten feet high w'heu in full head, forming stalks something 

 like sorghum, though it is a very succulent fodder. It should be 

 speeded at the rate of four to six quarts per acre on land well pre- 

 l)ared, in order ro encourage rapid and complete germination of all 

 of the seeds. It is a very rapid grower and will make a crop in from 

 forty to sixty days. The yield obtained at the farm averaged twelve 

 tons per acre. It is much more watery in its character than corn 

 even, thus making the yield of dry matter less than w^ould be the 

 case from the same yield of corn, though it is quite similar in its 

 composition, showing a nutritive ratio of 1:12. 



For soiling, cutting should begin before it is in head, since as it 

 begins to head the stalks become hard and unpalatable. All of the 

 millets are surface feeders, and should be well supplied with avail- 

 able fertilizing materials. 



The broom corn variety of millet is also excellent for soiling pur- 

 poses, and its treatment nu^y be the same as for the barnyard and 

 pearl varieties. Broom corn millet will require twenty to twi-nty- 

 five pounds of seed per acre, and the barnyard millet sixteen to 

 twenty pounds per acre. The seed should be evenly broadcasted 

 on a surface well prepared and fertilized or manured with materials 

 rich in available nitrogen. A good fertilizer is one containing: 



Per cent. 



Nitrogen, 5 



Available phosphoric acid, 6 



Potash, 5 



Kaffir Corn. — Kaffir corn is a crop quite similar in habits of 

 growth to the larger varieties of millet, and, while more leafy, is, 



