234 THE SOILS AND CROPS OF THE FARM. 



results and probably the short, stiff hairs or bristles 

 so abundant about the heads may cause injury in 

 some cases. If cut before the seeds have ripened 

 hay of good quality is secured. 



A recommendation of millet is that it may often 

 be grown as a "catch crop," following a crop of 

 wheat or one of rye which has been grown for pas- 

 turage or soiling. The millet may be removed in 

 time for a fall sown crop of grain. Millet also does 

 well sown on prairie sod when first broken. 



If sown for hay from half a bushel to one bushel 

 per acre may be sown. If the grain is the chief con- 

 sideration from one to two pecks per acre will give 

 better results than thicker seeding. 



Rye. — Rye, which has been treated of as a grain 

 crop, is a favorite crop in some regions for soiling and 

 also to be used for fall, autumn and early spring pas- 

 turage. It does well on almost any soil, is little liable 

 to injury by freezing and thawing in winter, often 

 makes a good growth in the fall, giving good pastur- 

 age for four or six weeks, and is among the very first 

 of soiling crops to be ready for cutting in the spring, 

 or it may be pastured for a time in the spring and 

 give a fair yield of grain. 



Comfrey. — The prickley comfrey {Symphytum 

 asperrimum) has been brought to this country from 

 Europe more than once, and introduced with ex- 

 travagant praise. It has not come into more than the 

 rarest use and it is not probable it will become gen- 

 erally popular. It is a coarse growing, fleshy stalked, 

 broad, coarse leaved plant, producing large crops. It 

 is very hardy, of easy cultivation and perennial. On 

 the grounds of the Illinois Experiment Station neg- 



