2g4 Bulletin 38. 



cured in so short a time after seeding, that a farmer may often 

 utilize a piece of land that might otherwise grow up to w r eeds, 

 and supplement his supply of forage without interfering much 

 with the growing of the regular staple crops. 



There are a great many varieties of millet grown in the 

 United States, each possessing certain merits. Some are better 

 adapted to dry regions than others, and some will make a crop 

 on land too poor for other varieties. These varieties may be ar- 

 ranged into three groups: Foxtail millets, Barnyard millets, and 

 Broomcorn millets. The most of those grown in the United 

 States belong to the first group, characterized by having com- 

 pact, bristly, foxtail-like heads. To this group belongs Common 

 Millet, German Millet, Golden Wonder Millet, and Hungarian 

 Millet. The Barnyard millets have branched heads and are 

 closely related to the grasses that grow in summer along irrigat- 

 ing ditches and in other moist places, and known in Southern 

 Arizona as " water grasses." To this group belongs the "Ankee" 

 grass of the southwest, Shama Millet or Jungle Rise, and Sanwa 

 Millet. The second variety is simply a cultivated form of the 

 grass with leaves banded with purple stripes that grows so luxu- 

 riantly along Arizona ditch banks during warm weather. The 

 Broomcorn millets have bushy heads, resembling more or less 

 those of broomcorn. The seeds of this group are white, yellow 

 or red. The varieties are numerous, the best known in the south- 

 west being the Manitoba, California Beauty, French, Turkish 

 and Hog Millet. 



Millets are grown for two purposes ; for forage and for the 

 seed. The forage is fed to both cattle and horses, but principally 

 to the former. The seed is used for both human food and food 

 for stock. The use of the seed for human food is confined to the 

 Old World, almost exclusively. For seed for stock feed the 

 Broomcorn millets are the principal ones grown in this country. 



The Foxtail millets are the ones grown most extensively in 

 this country, and of this group, the one most generally grown in 

 Arizona is German Millet. These millets not only endure exces- 

 sive heat and bright sunshine, but will make a crop with less 

 water than others. The Common millet is the hardiest of the 

 group, and endures drouth the best. German Millet gives a 



