")94 THE farmers' handbook. 



Place in the Rotation. 



In the general rotation on the farm, broom millet takes the same place as 

 maiae. It is not advisable to adopt the practice of growing it in the same 

 piece of land continuously under any conditions. Neither should broom 

 millet follow sorghum. No sorghum or broom millet crops are known 

 to be free from the Red Stain disease which lives over in the soil from 

 previous crops. It has been found, however, that in dry seasons, broom 

 millet does not thrive as well following millet as where the previous crop was 

 maize. The reason of this appears to be that, being more drought-resistant, 

 the millet continues to grow and thus exhausts the soil of its supplies of 

 moisture and plant-food, when maize would probably cease growing. Where 

 possible, broom millet should follow a leguminous crop like lucerne or. field 

 peas. 



Preparation of the Land. 



To obtain the best results, the land must be properly prepared and brought 

 to a fairly fine tilth before sowing. The previous treatment should be such 

 as would destroy weed seeds. The presence of weeds in the early stages 

 seriously interferes with the growth and cultivation of the young plants. 

 Deep ploughing is recommended. This not only ensures greater feeding 

 room for the roots, but it also has the effect of increasing the moisture- 

 tarrying capacity of the soil — a fact which must always be remembered, 

 especially in those districts where the rainfall is limited and irregular. 



Ploughing operations should be commenced a couple of months before sowing 

 time. This not only allows the land to sweeten by exposure to the weather, 

 but all vegetative growth turned under is generally well decomposed by the 

 time the second ploughing takes place. In early spring the land should be 

 well fined down by means of the harrow, disc, roller, &c. 



Sowing and Cultivation. 



Sowing should not take place until all danger of frost is over and the soil 

 is thoroughly warmed, so that the seed will germinate at once. September, 

 October, and November are usually the best months. On the Northern 

 Rivers excellent yields are obtained by sowing up to the end of January. 

 In these districts, frosts, if they do occur, come late in the season, 

 and after the millet crop is matured. If planted too early, there is 

 not sufficient heat in the soil to cause the seed to germinate, and it 

 will either rot or the young plants will be so weak that the weeds 

 will very quickly outgrow and smother them. It may be sown about the 

 same time as maize, or two or three weeks later, with advantage. Drills 4 or 

 5 inches deep are struck out with a plough (a double mould board one is 

 preferable) about 3 or 3| feet apart, and the seed planted along these by 

 hand or machine. The latter is preferable, as it sows more uniformly ; and 

 by using a fertilising attachment, chemical fertilisers may be applied at the 

 same time. An ordinary maize seed-drill with a sorghum or broom millet 

 plate, which sows and covers the seed in the one operation, is one of the best 

 for the purpose. During hot or dry weather the seed should be sown soon 

 after the drills are opened, and before the soil has had time to dry. When 

 this system is adopted, hilling can be dispensed with and a grea.t deal of 

 evaporation from the soil prevented by the exposure of a smaller surface. 

 Besides this, the plants, having their roots deep in the soil, have plenty of 

 support, and are not so quickly affected by dry weather. 



