CHAPTER XVII 

 MILLET 



The term millet does not refer to a . definite botanical 

 group (species, genus, or tribe) of plants. Originally it 

 applied to certain species of grasses belonging to the genera 

 ChcBtochloa (Seiaria), Panicum and Echinochloa, which are 

 still spoken of as the "true millets." 



Agriculturally speaking, the word "millet" embraces 

 a number of annual cereal and forage grasses which have 

 comparatively small seeds, abundant foHage, and a fibrous 

 root system. They are raised in Europe and the United 

 States for forage purposes and in a. number of Asiatic and 

 African countries for human food as well. 



Most of these millets belong to the four genera Chcetochloa, 

 Echinochloa, Panicum, and Pennisetum, of the tribe Paniceae. 

 Ragi or finger millet {Eleusine coracana) belongs to the tribe 

 Chlorideae. It is grown in India to quite an extent as a 

 cereal but has never attained favor in the United States. 



Key to Principal Economic Types (Species) of Millet and Some 

 Closely Related Common Weed Grasses ^ 



Inflorescence paniculate; no involucre below the individual spikelets. 

 Inflorescence a raceme of short spikes; empty glumes awned or awn- 

 pointed, Echinochloa (Barnyard millets and wild barnyard grass). 

 Awns long; spikelets white. E. crusgalli (common barnyard grass). 

 Awns short; spikelets brown, E. frumentacea (Japanese barnyard 

 millet). 

 Inflorescence a drooping panicle; empty glumes not awned, Panicum 

 miliaceum (proso or broom-corn millet). 



'After Frear. 210 



