NATURAL HISTORY. 79 



seed received through the Patent Office. It is an annual forage 

 plant introduced into France in 1815, where its cultivation 

 has become considerably extended. It germinates readily, 

 withstands the drought remarkably, remaining green even when 

 other vegetation is parched up, and if its development is 

 arrested by dry weather, the least rain will restore it to vigor. 

 It has numerous succulent leaves which furnish an abundance 

 of green fodder, very much relished by all kinds of stock. 



It flourishes in somewhat light and dry soils, though it attains 

 its greatest luxuriance in soils of medium consistency and well 

 manured. It may be sown broadcast and cultivated precisely 

 like other varieties of millet. This millet is thought to contain 

 a somewhat higher percentage of nutriment than the common 

 millet, though I am not aware that it has been analyzed. A 

 practical farmer of Worcester county says of it: "I have 

 raised the " Moha de Hongrie," on a small scale only. In my 

 garden it has grown thick and fine. 



" As it is a leafy plant and remains green until its seeds 

 mature, I tliink it may prove valuable for fodder, both green 

 and dry. It grows and matures in about the same time as the 

 common millet. 



" I have now one bushel of seed, grown on six. square rods. 

 This quantity will enable me to test it practically, another 

 season." 



This plant is seen in Fig. 84, which gives a correct repre- 

 sentation of it. 



The Bristly Foxtail, (^setaria verticillata,') is a grass some- 

 times, though rarely, found about farm houses. It has cylin- 

 drical spikes two or three inches long, pale green, somewhat 

 interrupted with whorled, short clusters, bristles single or in 

 pairs, roughened or barbed downwards, short. Not cultivated. 



Bottle Grass, sometimes called Foxtail, (^setaria glauca.^ 

 This is an annual with a stem from one to three feet high, 

 leaves broad, hairy at the base, sheaths smooth, ligule bearded, 

 spike two to three inches long, dense, cylindrical, bristles six to 

 eleven in a cluster, rough upwards, perfect flower wrinkled. 

 The spike is of a tawny or dull orange yellow when old. Flow- 

 ers in July. It is common in cultivated grounds and barnyards. 

 Introduced. 



The Green Foxtail, sometimes also called Bottle Grass, 



