FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 233 



MILLET (Panicum.) The stalks and leaves of this 

 plant resemble those of Indian corn, though much smaller^ 

 It grows to the height of about three and four feet A sandy 

 soil suits it best, and it should be sown in drills, about 

 three feet apart. The plants should stand about six inches 

 apart in the rows, after hoeing. It will produce as large 

 crops as Indian corn, and bears drought admirably well. 

 A crop of it sown thick, and mowed green, is excelent 

 fodder. 



* This grain (says Mr. Deane) is a good food for fowls 

 and Swine. For the latter it should be ground into meal. 

 Some mix it with flour in bread ; but it is best for pud- 

 dings/ 



MOSS (Lichen.) There are various kinds of this: 

 Some grows on trees, on stones, on the shingled roofs o 

 Rouses, on the surface of the ground ; and some of a very 

 minute kind, which is commonly called mould) on the sur- 

 face and in the crevices and cavilies of almost every sub- 

 stance which is wet or moist. 



Moss is particularly injurious to the growth of trees and 

 ef grass. Its growth is encouraged on fruit-trees, where 

 the soil is either too cold and wet, too sterile and dry, or 

 too thickly planted. Where the soil is too cold and wet, 

 the best remedy is hollow-draining, and manuring with 

 sand, Sheep-dung, and other manures suitable to the soil. 

 Where it is too sterile and dry, dig away the earth from 

 about the roots, and supply its place with a mixture of earth 

 and mud from ponds or creeks, or some other rich earth, 

 that is better calculated to retain moisture. Where the 

 trees stand too thick, cut part of them away, rub the moss 

 off the rest, and apply Forsytes method of heading down, 

 if necessary, making use of his composition to preserve the 

 wood. 



See FRUIT-TREES* 



Where moss prevails in grass-ground, apply a heavy 

 sharp iron toothed harrow to it; scarify the top of the soil 

 till it is somewhat raw, strew some seeds of herdsgrass, or 

 other good grass, over it, and give it a good dressing of a 

 mixture of Sheep-dung and sand, or other warm manure 

 that is suitable to a cold soil. This is for grounds suffi- 

 ciently dry ; but if the moss be occasioned by too much 

 v/etness in the soil, although the above method may prove 

 beneficial for a while ; yet nothing short of hollow-draining- 

 \vill ever prove effectual, for any considerable length of 

 time. Gypsum will also eradicate moss on dry loams. 



By experiments, says Mr. Deanc^ it is found that the 

 common yellow moss is a good manure for potatoes. It 



