AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES. 



51 



From April to June inclusive, the various kinds of millet are 

 sown in small furrows — less frequently in beds for subsequent 

 transplanting. They are harvested in September and October. 

 There come now for our consideration : — 



4. The common, or panicle millet, Japanese KibI {Panimui 

 iniliaceuni^ L.), which is grown much less extensively than the two 

 following. 



5. Club, or Italian millet, Japanese Awa [Panicuin iialicuiUy L. ; 

 vcrticillatinn^ Th. ; Setaria italica^ Kunth), a grain which, with the 

 sort that follows, is oftenest grown on dry, light soil, especially 

 in mountain regions. It is instantly recognisable by its thick 

 cylindrical hanging panicles. There are a good many varieties, 

 among which those predominate which, from their prominent, 

 unfruitful, bristle-shaped, blossom-pedicles, appear as short- awned. 

 The sweet yellow meal of its small seeds is of great importance as 

 food, both in Japan and China. 



6. Crow-foot millet, Hiye, Ko-kibi (little millet), in Thunberg 

 [Panicuin criis-galli, L. ; P. corvi, Thunb. ; Oplismemis cnis-galli, 

 Kunth). P aniciun frunientaceiLin^ Roxb. {Op/isvie/iiis, Kunth), is also 

 grown under this name, Hiye, but not as often as the former sort. 



7. Finger millet, Japanese Kamomata-kibi, or Shishi-hiye and 

 Nora-hiye {Eleiisine coracana, Gaertn. ; Cynosnrus coracantis, L.). In 

 certain parts of India, as Mysore and the Punjab, this smallish un- 

 pretentious grain is much cultivated under the name Raggi, and fur- 

 nishes the poor people a valuable food-supply. In Japan it is quite 

 subordinate to the two already mentioned (Awa and Hiye), so that 

 you might wander through the country for days together without 

 meeting it. I found it in Echigo, after harvest, where its short stalks 

 had been left standing and only the tops, with their three to five 

 ears standing together finger-fashion, cut off. I discovered it also in 

 Kaga, where the peasants called it Kamoashi and Kamo-mata-kibi. 

 They preferred its meal to Ko-mugi-no-ko (wheat-flour) for small 

 dough-cakes. In other places I heard the name Sankaku-hiye, 

 three-cornered (three-edged) hiye, which refers no doubt to its 

 three-edged stalk. In Thunberg and Kaempfer are to be found 

 the Japanese terms, Kokusa and Nanban-kibi, e.g.^ Barbarian 

 millet. 



8. Guinea corn or Durrah, Japanese Morokoshi [Sorghum vul- 

 gare, Perse ; Holms sorghum, L.); called also Taka-kibi (high millet), 

 is of only small importance for Japan. This grain is seldom found 

 except along the borders of fields, encircling them in a furrow ; and 

 even this but rarely. It is raised in April, in a seed-bed. Later, 

 having attained a height of about 15 cm., it is transplanted at 

 intervals of from 25 to 30 cm. It is harvested in September. The 

 same holds good for the long-panicled form, the broom-corn, so 

 often grown in Northern Italy, and of whose panicles brooms are 

 also made in Eastern Asia. 



9. Job's tears, Japanese Dzudzu-dama and Yokui-nin [Coix 



