15 



I. MIlvLE I' — Panicum crus-coroi. Jap. Hiye. This was sown 

 in drills two and a half feet apart and rather thickly, as it was sup- 

 posed the seed might be injured. It however, apparently all came, 

 and we thinned it so that about four plants only remained to the 

 linear inch of a rather broad row. It was kept free from weeds by 

 the use of a liund cultivator, but grew so rapidly that not much labor 

 was required. It was in blossom Aug. 23d, and was cut with seed 

 "in the dough'' ou Sept. 21st. When in blossom it stood sis and 

 a half feet high ; later, as the heads fill they droop. The plants had 

 an abundance of large leaves which remained green up to the time 

 of harvest. 



The promise of seed was enormous: but the sparrows found it, 

 and we saved very little. Nothing that we were able to devise served 

 to keep them off ; which fact, considering that there were several 

 other varieties of millet in the same field, sufficiently indicates the 

 quality of this. This species furnishes an unusually large and beau- 

 tiful seed, which must [)rove excellent either for poultry or cage- 

 birds. 



As a fodder crop the species may prove of value, though the 

 stems are harsh and coarse. For ensilage it will probably prove 

 better suited than for feeding either green or dry. Our yield was 

 large. On 616 sq. ft. of land we had 98 lbs. of dry straw, which is 

 at the rate of rather more than three and one-half tons per acre. 



II. MILLET — Setaria Italica or Panicum Italicum, Red Headed 

 Variety. Jap. Mochi Awa. The Japanese name means Glutinous 

 Millet, this variety being much used by them for making a kind of a 

 tough dough-cake which is allowed to dry, and then often toasted in 

 small bits over the fire, when it swells up and tastes not unlike pop- 

 corn. The seed was planted in the same manner as the preceding. 

 It appeared above ground on June 12lh, and was in flower Aug. 6th. 

 The heads were very long and full and as they filled drooped heavily, 

 but there was no lodging. Many heads, by actual measurement, 

 were found to be a foot long*. When straightened up the plants 

 were from five to six feet high. The birds showed their appreciation 

 of this variety also, and, it is judged, took fully half the seed. We 

 got 23 lbs. seed and 64 lbs. dry straw. The area was 616 sq. ft., 

 so that these yields are at the rate of 1,702 lbs. (about 28 bush.) of 

 seed and 4,736 lbs. (a little more than 2 1-4 tons) per acre. 

 This variety gave every indication of proving a valuable one ; 

 it is earlier than the preceding, but later than the next described. 

 The seed was fully ripe about the middle of September. 



