GRASSES OF IOWA. 



135 



Although there is some 

 doubt in regard to its culti- 

 vation in China, some writ- 

 ers think it is one of the 

 grains planted at the annual 

 ceremonies, instituted by the 

 emperor Chin-nong. It was 

 early introduced into India 

 and was at one time one of 

 the most important cereals 

 grown in France. It prob- 

 ably originated in the Egyp- 

 to- Arabian countries. 



Barnyard grass, Panicum 

 crusgalli L. — This species is 

 indigenous to Europe and 

 extending to Asia, and now 

 well-known as a cosmopoli- 

 tan weed. It is extensively 

 used as a forage plant in 

 (Div. of Japan. Of the other barn- 

 yard millets the Ankee is 

 used quite extensively in the north and northwest. The Mohave 

 Indians are said to use this seed very extensively for food. 

 In warmer parts of Asia several other species of Panicum are 

 used, especially Panicum indicum L. The Sanwa millet ( P. 

 frumentaceum Roxb.) and P. colonum, the Shama millet or Jungle 

 rice, native to the tropics and sub-tropical countries of the old 

 world. It has become naturalized in the warmer parts of the 

 United States. It is a native to Asia and is extensively grown 

 in India. Crab grass {Panicum sanguinale) was anciently culti- 

 vated as a cereal but its culture in modern times has almost 

 entirely ceased. It was apparently never used very extensively. 

 It is said to have been extensively cultivated in Bohemia and 

 used for soups, and still finds use in that country. 



The term Millets. This is applied to a number of grasses. 

 The term barnyard millet was first applied by Brooks* and later 

 adopted by Williams, f Williams has extended the use to not 

 only those millets which originated from common barnyard 

 grass but to varieties and species closely allied to it. 



*A^Dn. Rep. Mass. Hatch A^rl. Exp. Sta. 8: 31. 

 tYear book of the U. S. Dept. of Agr. 1898: 278. 



Fig. 71 BB. Broom corn millet. 

 Agrostology U. S. Dept. of Agrl.) 



