48 



to be failures, owing- to the lateness of planting and the severe drought. 

 Twenty-nine reports have been received, of which 14 record faiUires, 5 

 unsatisfactory, and 10 good results. The following are some of the 

 reports which have been received: 



Mr, E. M. Graham, Ruston, Lincoln County, La. : 



Two plantings were made, on the 1st and 15th of April, 1899, respectively. The 

 soil of the first planting was sandy, thoroughly pulverized and fertilized with manure 

 from a cow lot. The second planting was on rich bottom land without any fertilizer, 

 but the soil was thoroughly plowed. In both cases the seed was sown in drills about 

 30 inches apart. I did not harvest the millet until the seeds were fully matured, 

 which was about the 10th of July It makes good feed, cut green or cured. It grew 

 off slowly at first, but more rapidly as its roots took to the soil. It was not a fair test, 

 however, because of the severe dry weather in May and June and part of July. I 

 think this millet will be a good crop for this climate, and could be sown by the 15th 

 of March and harvested by the 15th of May. All stock relish it. 



Mr. John Howat, Welton, Clinton County, Iowa: 



The land used was a heavy, loam, prairie soil, underlaid with clay. It was well 

 prepared by plowing, harrowing, and pulverizing with a disk cultivator. The seed 

 was sown in drills, June 8, 1899. The land was cultivated twice with a corn cul- 

 tivator, and the crop harvested on September 4, when ripe enough for seed. The 

 yield is heavy, but the crop has not been thrashed yet, and its feeding value can 

 not be estimated before winter feeding. This is without doubt a valuable variety of 

 the barnyard millet, and will make a great crop of hay. Some of the seed which I 

 sowed broadcast produced a crop that was laid down ])y a heavy storm, while that 

 sown in drills came up again. I made an exhibit of the plants at our county fair. 

 The stalks were 5 feet high. 



Mr. Daniel McLaren, San Die^o, San Diego County, Cal. : 

 The seed was planted in drills about the middle of April on well-prepared, heavy 

 "adobe " soil. The millet was in full bloom about the middle of July. The millet 

 was harvested about the middle of August when fully ripe. In quality it is good, 

 but I could not do it full justice, as I was short of water. I am favorably impressed 

 with its value as a forage plant, as stock is very fond of it, and it yields au abundance 

 of seed. 



Hon. H. C. Warner, Forestburg, Sanborn County, S. Dak. : 



The seed was sown broadcast May 20, 1899, and harrowed in. I secured a per- 

 fect stand, but the drought of July, August, and September ruined the crop so that it 

 failed to head. I have grown barnyard millet for three years previous to this, and it 

 has proved very valuable for hay. 



Mr. W. A. Wilkin, Salesville, Guernsey County, Ohio: 



The yield per acre was about 2 tons. The quality of the hay was good, but 

 coarse, and the growth very heavy. I believe it to be a valuable crop to help out 

 when the hay crop is cut short by drought or other cause. 



Mr. J. T. Wright, Anson, Jones County, Tex. : 



The seed was sown in drills April 5, 1899. It matured a crop about June 20, 

 and yielded about 2 tons per acre. The quality of the product is very good. This 

 millet is a rapid grower, and, if the season permits, a second crop can be secured after 

 the first cutting, which will double the yield. It should be harvested when in full 

 bloom to make the best feed. I think it will be valuable, and I want to continue my 

 experiments with it next season. 



