AND OTHER FORAGE- Fi^TOsS' '>>'' J X J >/>\ \ , VlOl 



limited extent in the United States. There are several varie- 

 ties of it, founded on difference of color of the panicle or seed. 

 On good land, it attains a height of three to six feet, resembles 

 dwarf broom corn, produces much foliage and a panicle of which 

 the branches heavily loaded with seed all incline to the same 

 side. 



For feeding stock it should be cut, like the setaria, when in 

 bloom. It is then tender, digestible and very nutritious, and 

 may reach seventy bushels per acre if well cultivated. 



In order to show something of German industry, methods 

 and careful^ culture, we make a few extracts from the celebra- 

 ted Thaer's great work, "Principles of Agriculture." Though 

 of humble birth, his fame became so great that his friendship 

 was sought by the most celebrated agriculturists of England, 

 France, Denmark, Germany ; almost all the great sovereigns of 

 Europe complimented him on his great success; those of Prus- 

 sia, Russia, Saxony, Hanover, Bavaria and Wurtemburg sent 

 him their orders of knighthood ; and noblemen from all parts 

 of the world came to visit him, especially from England. 



He writes : "The common millet is preferred as having the 

 largest grain ; and the German millet as being least liable to 

 shed its grain, as ripening more quickly, and as not being so 

 much robbed by birds. The cultivation required by both is the 

 same or nearly so. 



"Millet requires a warm, rich, sandy, well pulverized soil. It 

 succeeds better when sown after some crop which has been 

 abundantly manured than it does when sown after an amelior- 

 ation of undecomposed manure. 



"A soil must be tilled to a great depth for its reception, and 

 plowed three times, besides being harrowed, rolled and thor- 

 oughly freed from weeds. Many farmers dig their ground to a 

 great depth previously to sowing it with this plant ; but a good 

 plowing answers the purpose equally well. Millet is in gener- 

 al very successful on newly drained land, provided that it is in 

 good condition, and also land which has been left in repose for 

 several years. In the latter case a single plowing is sufficient, 

 if the soil is subsequently harrowed and well broken up with a 

 roller before the seed is put into it. 



"Millet should be sown in May ; about three metzen of seed 

 is the quantity usually used per acre ; a harrow then is lightly 

 passed over the soil, and where the ground is dry, a roller also 

 must be used. The seed must be thoroughly ripe, perfect and 

 free from disease. 



"As soon as weeds make their appearance among the millet 

 which is just shooting above ground, they must be eradicated 

 by weeding. This is absolutely necessary, if we would not en- 

 danger the success of the crop ; and can only be dispensed with 

 where the land has only lately been drained and brought into 



