GRASSES OF IOWA. 



435 



^v-s. 



Fig. 202. German Millet, {Setaria italica). a and b, two views of the spikelet 

 with three bristles; c, seed. (Dlv. Agrost. U. S. Dept. Agrl.) 



Millet, or Hungarian Grass [Setaria italica) is the most 

 important of the species occurring in Iowa. It is cultivated as 

 a forage crop in all parts of this state, but chiefly as a catch crop. 

 If because of unfavorable weather corn has failed to germi- 

 nate, the field is sown with millet. It is usually sown about 

 the middle of June, and in sixty or sixty-five days produces a 

 good crop of hay, yielding from two to three tons p?r acre. 

 German millet {Setaria germanica) is grown as frequently as 

 Hungarian millet, but is not superior to it. 



Williams* says of Hungarian grass: "This millet first came 

 into general cultivation in the middle west. In Iowa it won 

 favor at once, and as early as 1856 was a most valuable forage 



*Yr. Bk. U. S. Dept. Agrl. 1898:274. 



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