GRAINS AND FORAGE CROPS 41 



Hog Millet. 



What is the correct name for "hog millet"? I have heard that it is a 

 quick grower and a heavy yielder. What is the best time of year- to sow 

 it, and how much seed to the acre. What is its value as a hog feed com- 

 pared with barley? What is the best grain to plant on rather heavy un- 

 irrigated red mesa land for hog feed? 



"Hog millet" is Panicum miliaceum, sometimes called "broom-corn 

 millet" because of its branching head. It is, of course, not broom-corn, 

 which is a sorghum. Hog millet is not tall-growing nor so leafy as some 

 other millets, but it makes more seed which is larger. It is used in Da- 

 kota in place of Indian corn because it matures in a shorter season and 

 endures heat and drouth well. It is poor as compared with barley. It 

 must be sown after frost danger is over, at about 25 pounds to the acre. 

 If you can grow rye or barley during the rainy season and sorghum grain 

 (Kaffir, milo, etc.) after frost, you have nothing to gain from millets 

 hog or otherwise. 



Rye or Oats. 



Which of the two cereals, rye and black oats, grows best on lowland? 



Rye is naturally adapted to growth on light soils neither too moist 

 nor rich, while oats luxuriate in a moist, rich soil and would, therefore, 

 barring the chance of rust, be more likely to meet your requirements. 



Grains and Cheat. 



What is cheat grass in hay? I am told it comes from oat seed under 

 certain conditions, but am inclined to doubt this. What is its feeding 

 value compared with oats? 



About 1875 Professor Hilgard pointed out that the "cheat" found 

 in California grain fields is a wild rye grass, while the "cheat" in Eastern 

 grain fields is a wild brome grass. Those then who hold that grain 

 turns to cheat have to admit that grain turns to one wild plant in Cali- 

 fornia and to another wild plant in the East. The fact is that it turns 

 to neither, but when cold wet ground causes the seed grain to rot, what- 

 ever wild plant which can endure to have its seed soaked in cold mud is 

 likely to appear in the place of the grain. The wild rye grass which 

 comes as cheat in California has feeding value when it is young and ten- 

 der, and is considerably used for pasturage. As it matures it becomes 

 hard and stemmy and is very much less valuable than hay made from 

 either wheat, barley or oats. 



Sorghums and Alkali. 



Dr. Hilgard mentions sorghum as an excellent grain in reclaiming 

 alkali lands, as it stands copious irrigation. To what sorghum does he 

 refer? Mile maize, Egyptian corn, feterita, etc., are all recommended, 

 "especially for use in non-irrigated sections." 



Professor Hilgard probably referred to Egyptian and Kaffir corn, 

 for they were used chiefly at the time of his experiments. But be 



