764 



PRACTICE OF AGRICULTURE. 



Part III. 



where the mid rib is 'depressed in the upper surface, and is very prominent below. The leaves are 

 two feet and a half long, and two inches broad in the middle, embracing the stalks with their 

 base. The flowers come out in large panicles at the top of the stalks, resembling at first appear- 

 ance the male spikes of the Turkey wheat ; these are succeeded by large roundish seeds, which are 

 wrapped round with the chaffi This grain is a native of India, where it is much used to feed poultry, 

 and is frequently sent to Europe for the same purpose. It is much cultivated in Arabia, and most parts 

 of Asia Minor ; and has been introduced into Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and some parts of Germany, also 

 into China, Cochin China, and the West Indies, where it grows commonly five or six feet high, or 

 more, and being esteemed a hearty food for laborers, is called negro guinea corn. Its long awns or 

 bristles defend it from the birds. In England, the autumns are seldom dry and warm enough to ripen 

 the seed well in the field. In Arabia it is called dora or durra ; the flour is very white, and they make 

 good bread of it, or rather cakes, about two inches in thickness. The bread which they make of it in 

 some parts of Italy is dark and coarse. In Tuscany it is used chiefly for feeding poultry and pigeons, 

 sometimes for swine, kine, and horses. Cajsalpinus says, that cattle fed on the green herb are apt to swell 

 and die, but thrive on it when dried. They make brushes and, brooms of its stalks in Italy, which are sent 

 to this country, which Ray observed in the shops at Venice. Of this species there are two distinct va- 

 rieties, known by their black and red husked seeds, besides subvarieties. 



4728. The only sorts of millet which can be cultivated with success in this country^ are 

 the German, cultivated, and the Polish sorts. According to Professor Thaer, the cul- 

 tivated is to be preferred, as having the largest grain. 



4729. The soil for the millet should be warm, sandy, rich, and well pulverised to a 

 good depth. The seed is sown in May, very thin, and not deeply covered. In the 

 course of its growth, no plant, Professor Thaer observes, is more improved by stirring 

 the soil, after which it grows astonishingly fast, and smothers all weeds. 



4730. In harvesting the millet, great care is requisite not to shed the seed ; and as it ripens 

 rather unequally it would be an advantage to cut off the spikes as they ripen , as is done 

 in reaping maize. No grain is easier to thresh, or to free from its husk by the mill. 

 It is used instead of rice, and in Germany bears about the same price. It produces a 

 great bulk of straw, which is much esteemed as fodder. 



47.31. The great Indian millet will grow in this country to the height of five or six 

 feet, but will not ripen its seeds or even flower if the season is not dry and warm. If its 

 culture is attempted, it should be raised in a hot bed and transplanted. 



4732. The Zizania aquatica (Jig. 561.) might be cultivated 

 on the margin of ponds for its seeds, which much resemble 

 those of Polish millet. It is exceedingly prolific, grows in 

 great luxuriance and produces abundance of bland farinaceous 

 seeds, in all the shallow streams of the dreary wilderness iu 

 north-west America, between the Canadian lakes and the 

 hilly range which divides Canada from the country on the 

 Northern Pacific ocean. Its seeds contribute essentially to 

 the support of the wandering tribes of Indians, and feed 

 .immense flocks of wild swans, geese, and other water-fowl, 

 which resort there for the purpose of breeding. Productive 

 as is this excellent plant, and habituated to an ungenial 

 climate, and to situations which refuse all culture, it is sur- 

 prising, says Pinkerton (Geog. vol. iii. 330.), that the 

 European settlers in the more northern 

 parts of America, have as yet taken no 

 pains to cultivate and improve a vegetable 

 production, which seems intended by na-i 

 ture to become, at some future period, j 

 the bread-corn of the north. 



4733. Thefestuca Jluitans resembles the zizania, and the seeds arelj 

 used in Germany like those of Polish millet. Various species of pani- 

 cum, hordeum, and bromus, afford tolerable supplies of edible seeds. 



4734i The maize or Indian corn (Zea m.ays, Jig. 192.) may be I 

 cultivated in this country in very dry warm situations, especially if 

 the dwarf red-grained variety be adopted. The straw forms an excellent 

 fodder, and the grain as a bread-corn is much liked by some, but 

 though it abounds in mucilage it contains little or no gluten, and is not 

 likely to be much used by tliose who can procure wheaten or even rye 

 bread. 



4735. The rice (Oriza sativa,Jig. 562. ) has been tried in this country, 

 and if sown very early, would probably ripen its seeds. The hill 

 variety, which does not require watering, would probably succeed best. 

 But there is no inducement to cultivate this and other grains or seeds 

 when they Can be imported at so low a rate. We merely introduce 

 them to record the resources of British agriculture in case of necessity. 



4736. The huck-^uheat (Fagopyrum) is vulgarly considered as a 

 grain; and the canary grass [Phalaris] is a gramen cultivated for its seed ; but neither 

 being bread-corn grasses, wc have classed them among manufactorial plants. (Chap. 

 VIII. Sect. IV.) 



