4 MILLKTS OK THK UKNl'S SETAIIIA. 



Mr. Molli.-Kin writes in his Text-book on Ai^riculture that 

 "a gooj crop stands nhoiit two feet hij^li. The plants have 

 enormous tilletin^ power. A tliick crop can, therefore, be got 

 from a small seed rate, provided the seed is equally .scattered in 

 sowing. Tlie stalks are very fine, the leaf ijrowth considerable 

 and the fodder at least good. The outturn of foddi-r per acre is 

 not, however, heavy. This grass is sparingly cultivated in the 

 hilly parts of the Deccan on comparatively light soil with moder- 

 ate rainfall. Barati is a rain.s' cr(>[) sown in June-July and 

 reaped in October-November." 



The grain of the wild plant is used as food in the Central 

 Provinces and Chutia Nagpur. 



Duthie says of the grass in a wild state that it is common 

 all over the plains of India, and attains moderate elevations on 

 the hills, and that it is generally considered to be a fairly good 

 fodder j;ras.s. It thrives best on rich or cultivated irrounil. 

 Symonds states that it appears a moderately good fodder, but is 

 unsuitable for making hay. In Australia it is highly relished by 

 stock. In the United States where it is known as " Pigeon or 

 Bottle Grass," it furnishes fodder which is considered as good but 

 less productive than that of " Hungarian Gi'ass ' (S italica). 



'1. Setaria italica, Reanv. Agrost.. p. .') 1 : Hdh/c. Fl. Br. Intl., 

 I'll, p.78; Duthie, Grasses of N. W. India, p. 8 ; Field and 

 Garden Crops, i>art "J, p. 5, pi. 25 ; Fodder (rrasses of Xorthern 

 India, p. 1 5. 



Panicum italicum, Dalz. & Gibs., Bomh. Fl. Siippl., p. 98, '. 

 Panicum pilosum, " Badlee," id. I. c p. 98, '. P. -(?)sp. (''Rale"), 

 id. I. c. p. 98. 



2 (a). Setaria italica (type). 



Attaining the height of 4^ feet. Cnhn yellow, moderately 

 robust, nodes tumid smooth, internodes short, sheaths smooth, 

 longitudinally close striate, margins ciliate, lit/nles .|Jg inch long, 

 irregularly partite or fimbriate. Leaves 1"2 to 18 inches long, 

 by ^ to 1 inch broad, light green in color, linear lanceolate acu- 

 minate, base slightly suffused with brown, blade with both surfaces 

 scabrous, mi(lril» distinct, white, strong, lateral nerves 



