ANNUAL FORAGE PLANTS 



For hay one- fourth to one-half bushel of seed may be sown ; 

 for seed, somewhat less. Shama millet (Panicum colonum L.) 

 and sanwa millet (P. frumcntaceum 1 Roxb.), closely related to 

 barnyard millet, have been tested in this country with rather 

 indifferent results. 



122. Other Panicums. A number of other species of the 

 genus Panicum deserve mention rather more because of the 

 forage they produce through their volunteer habit than because 

 they are cultivated. 



In the Gulf states crab grass (P. sanguinale L.) is said to 

 furnish more forage for home use than any other grass. This 

 it does by the volunteer growth occurring after other crops 

 have been removed or have matured. Colorado grass or Texas 

 millet (P. texanum Buckl.), a plant much like crab grass, but 

 larger and coarser, occurs in Louisiana and Texas, where on 

 moist soils it is considered a satisfactory volunteer hay crop. 

 Guinea grass (P. maximum Jacq.) has become established in 

 sections of Florida and elsewhere near the Gulf coast. It is 

 perennial, but the roots are killed if the ground freezes. It 

 ripens seed only in the extreme south. In regions suited to it, 

 it is highly valued for hay and pasture. 



Para-grass (P. molle Sw.), like Guinea grass, can be grown 

 only in regions not subject to severe frosts. It is perennial and 

 does not produce seed in this country. It is said to furnish 

 cuttings every six weeks between June i and October i, and 

 thereby to produce a large amount of forage. 



123. Pearl Millet (Pennisetum spicatum (L.) R. and S.) is 

 a coarse annual grass, six or more feet in height, bearing a 

 long, cylindrical spike. Its principal use is as a soiling crop, 

 and on account of its habit of stooling or suckering, it is pos- 

 sible on rich moist alluvial lands in the south to secure two to 



1 Index Kewensis gives P. frumentaceum Roxb. = P. colonum L., and P. 



frumentaceum Salisb. = Sorghum vulgare Pers. 



