Timely Hints for Farmers. 295 



heavy yield under favorable conditions, but requires more water. 

 The hay is coarser than that of Common Millet. The 

 Hungarian Millet does not endure drouth as well 

 as Common Millet, but under most favorable conditions 

 usually gives a heavier yield. For a crop of seed the 

 (jolden Wonder Millet is the best of the Foxtail millets, the for- 

 age being coarse. This variety endures less drouth than any of 

 the Foxtail varieties mentioned. 



Millets prefer a rich, mellow, loamy soil, thriving in neither 

 heavy clay or adobe soil, nor in a light, sandy soil. While it is 

 better to prepare the soil well, millet may be sown on quite rough 

 land. Where the soil is not too compact or the surface covered 

 with too rank a growth of weeds, it may be simply "disked " in. 

 This method is especially applicable to stubble land, after the 

 grain is off. 



Millet is a warm weather plant, thriving in heat and sensi- 

 tive to cold. In Southern Arizona it may be sown any time from 

 the first of May to the end of September. While it may be sown 

 early in the summer, it is not usually advisable to do so, as the 

 month of June is apt to be very trying on it, irrigating water 

 commonly being short as well as the air dry. The most favor- 

 able time is during July and August, the exact date advisable de- 

 pending on the weather, the water supply, and local conditions. 

 The time that the forage is desired may also be a factor in decid- 

 ing upon the time to sow. The varieties vary considerably as to 

 the length of time required for growth, but the average time is 

 about two months. As it is quite sensible to frost, it must be 

 sown early enough to reach the stage desired before there is 

 danger of freezing. Thirty to forty pounds of seed of the Foxtail 

 or Broomcorn millets is the usual amount sown per acre, and fif- 

 teen to thirty pounds per acre of the Barnyard varieties. Rich, 

 well prepared land requires less seed than poor or rough land. 

 vSowing too little seed is likely to result in coarse-stalked hay. 

 Most varieties of millet enjoy plenty of water, hence there is little 

 danger of irrigating the crop too heavily during July, August or 

 September. 



Millet should be cut before the seed begins to ripen, es- 

 pecially if it is intended for horses. But it should not be cut too 



