MILLETS 167 



are, Foxtail, Barnyard and Broom Corn millets. 

 The most common varieties are identified with the 

 first class, including Common, German, Hungarian 

 and Golden Wonder. 



Japanese millet is closely allied to the German 

 variety. There are several different millets, how- 

 ever, that come under the name of Japanese. The 

 Barnyard millets are known as barnyard grass and 

 very common. In this country they are used ex- 

 clusively for forage, although in India the grain 

 is largely used as food for the people. 



Pearl millet, a variety that has received a good 

 deal of advertising in recent years, goes under 

 many names, among which are Penicillaria, Egyp- 

 tian millet and Cat Tail millet. This variety is 

 erect, growing to a height of from 8 to 16 feet. It 

 bears its seeds in a slender, cylindrical head which 

 varies from 8 to 12 inches in length. It is a very 

 succulent annual and there is much difference of 

 opinion as to its usefulness. It is a heavy producer 

 and may be cut two or three times during a season. 

 It is not liked so well as a hay crop, because of the 

 difficulty of curing. It is much valued for pastur- 

 ing or soiling. 



Millet is really a summer crop and likes warm 

 weather. It also likes warm soils. It is frequently 

 seeded in poor land, but the crop really requires 

 a fertile soil. A strong objection to the crop from 

 the soil standpoint is the fact that it feeds only near 

 the surface. On account of the rank growth much 

 moisture is necessary if a heavy crop is to be ob- 

 tained. For this reason clay loams are best. In 

 moist climates where the summer rainfall is rather 

 liberal, the sandy soils, if fairly fertile, will produce 

 abundantly. 



